DONALD Phipps, alias "Zeeks", the so-called leader of the tough Matthews Lane community in downtown Kingston, was yesterday formally charged with the April murder of Dayton 'Scotchbrite' Williams and Rodney Farquarson.

Phipps. to face court tomorrow

Phipps is scheduled to appear before the court tomorrow to answer the charges.
Police said both men were shot in the head and their bodies burnt and dragged to an open lot at Nearby Rose Lane and set on fire.

The police reported that blood marks were evident along Matthews Lane and Rose Lane on the morning the bodies of both men were found.

"We have overwhelming evidence to charge him with double murder," said communication officer for Operation Kingfish, Sergeant Steve Brown.

Phipps was arrested on April 18, while he was preparing to leave the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, where he had appeared to answer to charges of illegal possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of pharmaceuticals and possession of two pounds of marijuana.

The police later raided Phipps' Matthews Lane premises and later searched a house he owns at Highland Drive in Havendale, St Andrew.

The police said they found money amounting to J$18 million, ski masks, a bullet proof vest and two sticks of ganja at the Highland Drive residence and an Enforcer machine gun and a quantity of ammunition at the premises in Matthews Lane.

Police also said they collected samples of what appeared to be human blood inside a community centre at Matthews Lane. Phipps is scheduled to appear in court on July 7 to answer to the ammunition, ganja and pharmaceutical charges.

He will return to court on June 17 to answer to charges of unlawful possession of the $18 million and possession of the two sticks of ganja, which were allegedly found in an iron vault at his house.

Phipps shot to national prominence in September 1998 when riot erupted in downtown Kingston following his arrest by the police.
Matthews Lane is located in West Kingston, but unlike the rest of the constituency, the community strongly supports the ruling People's National Party.

walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com

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