Prosecution rests

AFTER calling 10 individuals to give evidence since September 17, the prosecution in the Andre Ruddock murder trial closed its case on Friday, opening the way for the defence to call witnesses of its own, if it so desires, next Monday. A pathologist was the last witness to be called by the prosecution on Friday in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston before it ended its case. The pathologist confirmed that 39-year-old Taneka Gardner was in fact dead and died from having her throat slashed. If the defence, led by attorney Anthony Williams, decides to call witnesses of its own, it would be to try and prove that Ruddock is not guilty of murder in relation to the October 17, 2021 human sacrifice-type killing of Gardner at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Albion, St James. It is alleged that Ruddock was acting on instructions from his now-deceased pastor, Kevin Smith. Gardner died after her throat was cut, allegedly by Ruddock. It is a possibility that on Monday, Ruddock could decide to take the witness stand himself. In the meantime, Williams and Venice Brown, who comprise his legal team, await further instructions from him on whether or not he will testify. The seven members of the jury appeared happy on Friday to learn that the prosecution had ended its case and that the matter, which has taken them away from their private avocations, will be behind them soon. Williams and Brown defended Ruddock vigorously throughout the trial, although their client confessed to killing Gardner one day after the woman’s throat was cut. He had confessed to detectives in the presence of two justices of the peace that he was responsible for cutting Gardner’s throat. The confession, which Ruddock gave in a caution statement, was recorded in writing by detectives and was also video-recorded. Following the taking of the caution statement, detectives went on to ask 42-year-old Ruddock questions to get clarity on how the gruesome events, which led to Gardner’s demise, unfolded. That question-and-answer session was also video-recorded. The videos of both the caution statement and a question-and-answer session with detectives were played in court for the jurors to review. Ruddock did not appear to be under any threat to confess to killing Gardner, although Williams sought to convince the jurors that his client was threatened and intimidated prior to him being taken to Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay. The main witness in the case — who said he was an adjutant to the pastor of the church, often shaving his head, carrying his Bible and helping him to get dressed — told the court that Ruddock took a knife from another member of the church and cut Gardner’s throat, after that member hesitated to carry out the pastor’s order. The witness said Gardner did not resist, after she allegedly told the pastor that she believed he could bring her back to life if she was to have her throat cut.