KINGSTON, Jamaica – A simple act of kindness led to a security guard appearing before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, as a car he reportedly rented on behalf of an acquaintance was allegedly used in a murder.

Rushane Anderson faces charges of conspiracy to murder, accessory before the fact, and accessory after the fact. It is alleged that he rented a Toyota motorcar, which was reportedly used to transport four men responsible for a fatal shooting on Orange Street in Kingston on Friday, June 30.

Court documents indicate that upon arriving at Orange Street, one of the passengers exited the car and allegedly shot and killed another man. The assailants fled, prompting a police pursuit and shootout in which two of the men were killed by officers.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the vehicle was rented by Anderson. However, during questioning, he claimed not to have known about the vehicle’s involvement in a murder.

Furthermore, the court learned that Anderson, upon learning of the car’s role in the crime, allegedly contacted an “agent” of the car owner, urging them to report the vehicle as stolen to investigators.

During a bail application on Tuesday, Anderson’s attorney appealed for leniency.

He stated that Anderson had been working as a security guard for seven years and had no prior convictions. The attorney emphasised his client’s reputation for kindness, citing a previous instance in which Anderson had rented a vehicle for an acquaintance without issue. Anderson had not questioned his acquaintance’s request to rent the car.

“It is a kindness without question,” presiding judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague said.

“My client looks forward to the day in court when he can prove his innocence,” the lawyer said. “There is no reason why my client should not be considered as a fit and proper candidate for bail.”

“He is fully aware of the seriousness of the charges [and] he will not interfere with the witnesses or impede the course of justice,” he went on to say.

In addition to granting bail at $400,000, the court ordered Anderson to surrender his travel documents and placed a stop order at all ports. He was also required to report to the nearest police station on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

However, Anderson could not take up the bail offer until the person with whom he would be staying provided a valid identification card to authorities.

The case file is set to be completed by December 7, when Anderson is due to return to court.