Pathways Ministries Trial | Pastor Kevin Smith shot me and told me I was immortal, former church member testifies

A former Pathways International Church member broke down in court after testifying that he was shot in the back twice by the now-deceased church leader, Dr Kevin Smith.

The witness, who was given a short break to compose himself as he sobbed openly in court, said that after the shooting, the church leader told him, “You are immortal; you cannot die.”

The witness also recalled that Smith pushed his finger into the wound after shooting him.

The witness, who had worked closely with Smith, explained that the church leader shot him after taking a firearm from another individual who was a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The witness stated that prior to the shooting, Smith saw police on the premises, summoned a female police officer, took her gun, and fired at the police.

According to the witness, when Smith started firing, he took cover behind a column, from where he could see Smith shooting.

However, he said that while standing there, he heard a loud explosion and realised he had been shot.

“I felt like I got a hard punch, then I fell down,” he testified.

He stated that after he was shot, Smith looked at him and repeated that he was immortal.

Earlier in his testimony, the witness recounted that he had also been stabbed in the back and that Smith had stated his throat must be cut.

The witness, whose name is being withheld following an order from the judge, recounted these horrifying details while giving evidence in the trial against Andre Ruddock.

Ruddock is charged with the October 17, 2021, murder of 39-year-old Taneka Gardner during an alleged sacrificial ritual at the church.

Smith died about a week after the church incident in a motor vehicle crash while being transported to Kingston to face criminal charges.

- Tanesha Mundle

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