TRELAWNY, Jamaica — The accused trigger man who pumped four shots into Andrea Lowe Garwood as she prayed in church allegedly boasted, in a WhatsApp message, of being offered $170,000 to carry out the hit.

The details came out Tuesday, on the first day of the murder trial of Javan Garwood, the man accused of hiring the hitman.

Garwood is the stepson of the slain woman.

In his testimony, witness for the Crown Leon Hines said that in January 2021 he received a WhatsApp message from Dwight “Prince” Bingham. It showed a picture of a stash of $1,000 notes.

Hines told the court that in response to his request for an explanation Bingham, who is a construction worker, told him he got $170,000 from Garwood “for a piece of work”.

Hines explained that he interpreted the comment to mean the money was payment for work to be done at Garwood’s house in Rose Heights, St James.

Hines also told the court that Garwood, who he refers to as Janoy, tried to frame him for taking out the hit. Hines claimed that a female cop informed him of the accusation, and he believed her.

In March 2021, 23-year-old Hines, who admitted he was the getaway driver at the time of the shooting that sent churchgoers scurrying for cover, was sentenced to six years in prison. This after he turned Crown witness and agreed to provide evidence against both his co-accused.

Last week the triggerman, Bingham, pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced on July 25.

Garwood is to return to court on Wednesday for the continuation of his trial. The matter is being presided over by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes. Garwood is being represented by attorney-at-law Khadine Coleman.

Lowe Garwood, a 51-year-old banker, was gunned down inside Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Falmouth, Trelawny, in January 2021.