FORMER POLICEMAN, 36-year-old Alpheus Wade has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping Kingston businessman Marc Frankson in June 2011.
Justice Jennifer Straw, in handing down sentencing yesterday in the Home Circuit Court, said Wade should have been sentenced to 20 years; however, she said she took into account the fact that the ex-cop had been in custody since his arrest in 2011. Wade was convicted last month by a seven-member jury.
The Crown, represented by senior deputy director of public prosecutions Jeremy Taylor and crown counsel Larona Montague Williams, led evidence that Wade and other men kidnapped Frankson on the morning of June 15, 2011 and demanded a ransom of US$500,000.
Jump From The Vehicle
The businessman testified that while being driven by his kidnappers in the night, there was a shootout and he managed to jump from the vehicle. Frankson said he later found out that he was in Portmore, St Catherine. He said he went to the Waterford Police Station and made a report.
Police witnesses testified that while chasing the vehicle, it crashed into a wall. They said the vehicle was subsequently searched and Wade’s licensed firearm, his identification cards, and marked United States currency were found. The police said the money recovered in the motor vehicle matched bank notes which they had dropped off to Frankson’s kidnappers.
On the morning of June 16, 2011, Wade turned up at the Spanish Town Police Station and reported that he was kidnapped the night before. He was taken into custody. During questioning, he admitted that he was involved in Frankson’s kidnapping.
However, in his defence, Wade said he was forced to make the admission because the police told him that his girlfriend was in custody and that his children were going to be put in the care of the State. He said he had nothing to do with Frankson’s kidnapping.
Dat police bwoy is nuttn but a fool. What kinda mess yuh find yuh self eena my yute :bingung