WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – A Westmoreland taxi driver is in custody after allegedly hacking a man to death during a fight.

Shadwayne Ellis, a 36-year-old taxi operator of Geneva district, Grange Hill, Westmoreland was charged with murder following the killing of 54-year-old Rodway Powell, otherwise called ‘Jerky,’ of Farm Pen Llandillo, Savanna-la-Mar, in the parish.

Reports from the lawmen are that about 3:00 pm, Ellis and Powell got into an argument that became physical.

It is alleged that Powell held on to the keys to Ellis’ car. In an attempt to retrieve the keys, Ellis pulled a machete from the back of the vehicle, which he used to inflict multiple chop wounds to Powell’s body, before escaping the area on foot.

The police were summoned, and on their arrival, Powell was seen lying on the ground in in blood with chop wounds to his upper body. He was assisted to the hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

Ellis was taken into custody and subsequently charged on Saturday. His court date is being finalised.