The police yesterday reported that they have charged 19-year-old Oral Redway with murder in connection with the brutal slaying of 74-year-old retiree Peggie Aljoe at her home in Discovery Bay, St Ann, last month.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police McArthur Sutherland, Redway has been charged with murder and other crimes, and “will be further processed in preparation for appearance in the St Ann Criminal Court on November 29”.
Aljoe was murdered about 3:30 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 — a few days after she returned to the island from the United States of America.
Friends, who had not heard from her, filed a missing person’s report on the day of the murder. When the police went searching for her that day, Aljoe’s body was found in the vicinity of the perimeter fence her property in Bridgewater District.
The wounds on her body suggest she was bludgeoned.
Yesterday, SSP Sutherland said the investigation led detectives from the Major Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Branch to premises at Townhead District in Westmoreland where operations were conducted and Redway, a labourer of St Ann and Westmoreland addresses, apprehended.
“A search of the premises revealed items owned by the now deceased. Redway was arrested on reasonable suspicion and taken to St Ann,” Sutherland said, adding that the arrest was made on November 22, 2018.
“As the investigation progressed, the emerging investigative leads were processed and promptly acted on. Other operations were conducted in Westmoreland and St Ann in search of additional items of evidentiary value and particularly, scientific evidence for analysis,” SSP Sutherland said.
“During the process, the suspect confessed to the brutal crime and was formally interviewed in the presence of his attorney.” He was formally charged with the murder and other crimes last Friday.
“The relentless efforts of our detectives throughout the investigation to track down and arrest this suspect, with evidence to achieve yet another critical breakthrough in a major criminal investigation, is indeed commendable,” SSP Sutherland said.
“It reinforces an important message to potential murderers that they will be pursued and arrested by our investigators who are trained and prepared to take on the challenges,” he added.
Thank God that this woman’s family can find closure. I hope the justice system ensures justice is served.