Policeman remanded in fatal Ewarton Sports Complex shooting, case transferred to circuit court

The policeman charged with for allegedly discharging his weapon during a fracas at the Ewarton Sports Complex in St Catherine, resulting in the shooting of two persons, one fatally, has been remanded and his case transferred to the circuit court.

Constable Orlando Garricks is charged with murder and wounding with intent.

When he appeared in the parish court this morning, Parish Court Judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle indicated that a voluntary bill of indictment had been handed down by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in the matter, moving the case to the Circuit Court.

The accused was represented by attorney-at-law Althea Grant.

The policeman was charged on Tuesday and appeared in court, where he was offered $1 million bail.

With the matter transferred to the Circuit Court, he was remanded.

Allegations are that on October 13, 2024, an entertainment event was held at the Ewarton Sports Complex in St Catherine.

During the function, a fracas reportedly broke out and the policeman allegedly discharged his weapon, resulting in the injury of a man and a woman.

Both were assisted to hospital, where the man, later identified as Vivian Francis, of an Ewarton address, was pronounced dead.

The officer reportedly told investigators that he acted in self-defence.

However, the Independent Commission of Investigations, which probed the matter, reported on Tuesday that eyewitness accounts gathered during its investigation differed from his version of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Following its investigation, the commission submitted a file to the ODPP, which ruled that Garricks should be charged with murder and wounding with intent.

- Rasbert Turner

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.