Hotel owner arrested for allegedly killing guest

An altercation between a Westmoreland hotel owner and one of his guests, Sunday morning, left the guest dead and the hotel owner charged with his murder.

Dead is Merrick Phillips, 41, who has relatives in the Darliston area of the parish. He was on a two-week visit to the island and was scheduled to leave on Thursday. Meanwhile, in police custody is Deltonio Williams, proprietor of a Whithorn guest house.

Reports from the police’s information officer for the parish are that about 8:00 pm on Saturday, Phillips and a friend checked in at the guest house. Phillips then left to attend a function at Whithorn square. About 4:45 Sunday morning, he returned to the guest house and Williams reportedly denied him entry. Phillips allegedly forced open the gate and entered. During an ensuing altercation, a knife was used to stab Phillips in the chest, side, back and face. He was taken to the Savanna-la-mar Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Following investigations by the Whithorn police, Williams was arrested and charged for murder. He is booked to appear in the Whithorn Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday April 24.

Car ploughs down pedal cyclist

A 32-year old man was pronounced dead at hospital after he was hit off his bicycle by a car on the Portmore Causeway Sunday.

He has been identified as Cedrick Dwyer of Henderson Avenue, Kingston 11.

Reports from the police’s information officer for St Catherine South are that about 7 o’clock Sunday morning, Dwyer was riding a bicycle along the Causeway. On reaching the vicinity of the fishing village he was involved in a collision with a red Suzuki Swift motor car, registered 6207 DX, driven by Noel Anderson of Portmore Pines, St Catherine. Dwyer sustained head injuries and was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was admitted. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Cabinet Maker shot and killed

A 30 year-old cabinet maker was shot and killed by unknown assailant(s) at East Heroes Circle, Kingston 4 Sunday night.

He has been identified as Conley Kelly of Gold Smith Villa, August Town, Kingston 7.

Reports from the police’s information officer are that about 9:00 pm, Kelly was reportedly driving a motorcycle along East Heroes Circle. On reaching the vicinity of the Ministry of Finance building, he was shot in the chest by unknown assailant(s) who then robbed him of the motorcycle. He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Kingston Central Police are investigating.

Portland resident drowns at sea

Twenty-seven year-old Paul Richards of Long Bay, Portland, reportedly drowned off the Long Bay coast Sunday.

Reports from the police’s information officer for the parish are that about 3:30 pm Richards was swimming when he got into difficulties and drowned before help could reach him. The body was removed to the morgue for post mortem examination.

The Castle Police are investigating.