Alleged serial killer back to court December 5
ST JAMES, Jamaica — December 5 will be the next court date for Ronaldo Ricketts, the St James man charged with murder in relation to the killing of four homeless people in Montego Bay.
He was given the new court date on Thursday, when he appeared in the St James Parish Court before presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, who remanded him in custody.
Attorneys-at-law Henry McCurdy and Suwayne Phillips are representing Ricketts. He was also charged with forcible abduction.
On September 13, the court ordered that he should undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the St Catherine Adult Remand Centre.
READ: Man accused of killing five homeless people ordered to undergo psych evaluation
However, the court was told on Thursday that while he had been seen by a doctor after he complained of injuries, it was unclear whether it was a psychiatrist. In addition, there is no psychiatric report on file.
Concerning the murder charges, the court was told that several items are outstanding from the prosecution’s case file, including the four post-mortem reports.
Ricketts was arrested on August 30, on charges of abduction and assault at common law, following allegations that he picked up the complainant along Humber Avenue in downtown Montego Bay and drove her to Melville Hall Avenue before brandishing a knife and demanding sex.
READ: St James alleged serial killer slapped with two more charges
The woman managed to escape from the car and screamed for help, getting the attention of nearby cops who were on patrol at the time. Ricketts was subsequently detained and taken into custody.
It is further alleged that while he was in custody for that incident, Ricketts confessed to the killings of four homeless people in sections of Montego Bay between July 28 and August 20 this year. It is understood that all the victims were stabbed with a sharp instrument while they were sleeping.
