Taxi driver James Knight recalled that it was mere seconds after his passenger got out of his taxi that he heard seven or eight explosions.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
That was Knight’s evidence in Supreme Court No. 4A last Friday in the trial of Shawayne Dashawn Williams, 30, of Whitehall No. 1, St Michael, who is accused of murdering Tavon Alleyne on December 26, 2017.
Alleyne, who was 21 at the time and resided at Lakes Close, Eden Lodge, St Michael, was shot at Main Avenue Eden Lodge, and died later at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
The deceased was his friend, Knight said, and he knew him as “Murca”. He said that on Boxing Day he picked him up from Rock Gap, Spooner’s Hill, St Michael, and Alleyne asked him to take him to his girlfriend’s home in Eden Lodge, which he did.
“When I dropped him off he paid me, I made change, and about three to four seconds after he get out the vehicle, I heard around seven to eight explosions.”
The witness said he did not drive off immediately but soon told himself that the explosions sounded “too close”. So he drove around for about two minutes “to let the air clear” before calling one of Alleyne’s sisters. They spoke and he went to collect her, to take her to the QEH. However, when he learnt soon after that Alleyne had died, he left.
The accused is being represented by Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, while Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Aliston Seale, SC, and State Counsel Paul Prescod are prosecuting.
A 12- member jury of six men and six women is hearing the evidence while Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell presides.
Several police witnesses have already testified.
The trial continues tomorrow. (SD)