Woman accused of ploting deadly attack on policeman’s family remanded
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A bail hearing has been scheduled for a man and woman facing charges in connection with a brazen gun attack on a policeman and his family on the Reading Main Road in Montego Bay, St James, on August 9.
The accused are 38-year-old businesswoman Trafficia Malcolm-Demontagnac, known as Traff, of Catherine Hall, St James, and 23-year-old plumber Kadean Nathan of Bethel Town, Westmoreland. They are represented by attorneys Chumu Paris and Maurice McCurdy, respectively.
The accused face several charges, including murder, wounding with intent, use of a prohibited weapon to commit a felony, and multiple counts of conspiracy related to the attack.
A third suspect, 24-year-old carpenter Orlando Thomas of Argyle Mount, Westmoreland, was killed during a confrontation with police on August 13.
The incident left 36-year-old Latoya Stephenson of West Village, St James, dead, while the policeman and a child sustained gunshot injuries and were hospitalised.
When the case came before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, it was revealed that crucial documents — including the post-mortem report, ballistics certificate, forensic certificate, and a report from the Communication, Forensic, and Cybercrime Division — were still outstanding.
Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton subsequently scheduled a bail hearing for December 15 and remanded the accused in custody. Attorney McCurdy requested that the medical journal be presented at that hearing.
According to reports, around 8:45 pm on August 9, Stephenson and her family went to meet Thomas to collect a key. Nathan had driven Thomas to the location. As Stephenson returned to her vehicle after retrieving the key, Thomas reportedly brandished a firearm and opened fire, striking her, the policeman, and the child. Stephenson was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the other victims were admitted for treatment.
Following the investigation, Malcolm-Demontagnac was arrested during an operation in Burnt Ground, Ramble, Hanover, on August 13. Nathan turned himself in three days later, on August 16. Both were formally charged on August 19 after giving caution statements detailing their involvement.
