Woman jumps from moving taxi after alleged threat to kill her

MONTEGO BAY, St James — A woman said she was forced to jump from a moving taxi after the driver allegedly pulled a knife and threatened to kill her during a dispute over a missing cellphone in this western city. The accused, Ryan Campbell, recently appeared in the St James Parish Court before Senior Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton, charged with assault at common law. The court heard that on September 29, about 6:30 pm, the complainant was travelling in a taxi from Cornwall Courts, St James, to King Street when Campbell allegedly asked her whether she remembered him from the previous day, when she had reportedly taken his phone. The woman denied the accusation, and Campbell allegedly brandished a knife and threatened her, saying, “Mi a go kill yuh.” Fearing for her life, the complainant jumped from the moving vehicle, injuring her knee and scattering items from her bag in the process, the court was told. Campbell reportedly exited the vehicle, picked up the woman’s cellphone and drove away. The incident was subsequently reported to the police, and Campbell was arrested. Under caution, he admitted pulling the knife but denied physically harming the complainant. “Yes, mi pull di knife on her, but mi never hurt her. She’s a woman who always a tief and get weh. She sit right beside mi when it go missing,” he reportedly told the police. During the court proceedings, the judge questioned Campbell about whether the complainant had stolen his phone. He maintained that she had, explaining that she was the first passenger he picked up. The judge ordered a social enquiry report and extended Campbell’s bail until December 9, when he is scheduled to be sentenced.