The arrest and charging of a suspect in the brutal killing of Sandra Risden have been confirmed by the police. The incident took place on January 18, 2024, during the early morning rush-hour traffic on Washington Boulevard, St Andrew.
The suspect, Ojo Russell, also known as ‘Jerry Stunts,’ aged 30 and working as a mechanic on Woodpecker Avenue, Kingston 11, has been charged with murder, possession of a prohibited weapon, and unauthorized possession of ammunition. Russell is scheduled to appear before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
The tragic event unfolded around 8:00 a.m. as Risden was commuting to work. A motorcycle carrying two individuals pulled up beside her car in the vicinity of Aldene Drive. The pillion passenger allegedly opened fire on Risden before the motorcycle sped away.
An off-duty policeman who witnessed the incident attempted to pursue the assailants but was forced to abort the chase when one of the individuals brandished a firearm.
While the police have not officially declared a motive, there are suggestions that the incident may have been a targeted attack arising from a dispute related to a family-owned property managed by Risden.
Colleagues at the law firm Nunes, Scholefield, DeLeon, and Company, where Risden served as a senior paralegal for over 35 years, have praised her dedication and loyalty. The loss of such a valued member is deeply felt in the community.
Cops name female person of interest in Melissa Silvera murder investigation.
Detectives from the Major Investigations Division (MID) are appealing to the public for assistance in locating an individual of interest believed to have crucial information regarding the investigation into the tragic death of Melissa Silvera, the wife of former Member of Parliament (MP), Jolyan Silvera.
The former lawmaker has been charged with the murder of his wife following the discovery of her body with gunshot wounds at their residence in Stony Hill, St. Andrew, on November 10, 2023. Initially, Mrs. Silvera’s passing was attributed to natural causes.
The individual sought by the authorities is Sashana Miller, who is known to reside in the Corporate Area. Miller has been asked to present herself to the MID’s office at 230 Spanish Town Road in St. Andrew or the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) head office at the NCB South Tower on Oxford Road, also in St. Andrew.
Members of the public with any information on the whereabouts of Sashana Miller are urged to contact the MID at 876-758-5048, the CIB at 876-922-2380, Crime Stop at 311, the 119 Police Emergency Number, or the nearest police station.
Legal Representation Condemns Defamatory Designation in Melissa Silvera’s Murder Probe
Attorneys representing a woman identified as a person of interest by the police in the Melissa Silvera murder investigation have strongly condemned the designation. The Major Investigations Division (MID) issued a public notice appealing for the woman to surrender herself, prompting lead attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson K C to accuse the police of defamatory portrayal of her client in a media release this morning.
Neita-Robertson emphasized that her client, whose identity was erroneously released to the media, had been confirmed by the police themselves as not being a person of interest just this week. The attorney voiced concerns about her client’s unwarranted intimidation and detrimental impact on her personal and professional life due to the media attention. She emphasized the requirement for due process and legal representation for her client, urging the authorities to address her concerns.
In light of the situation, the legal representatives expressed their intent to pursue all available legal avenues to address the injustice and seek appropriate redress for the damages caused by the unwarranted release of their client’s name as a person of interest. Neita-Robertson also appealed to the public to respect the legal process and refrain from making baseless assumptions regarding her client’s involvement in the murder case.