A man accused of murdering another man in his community during a dispute over ackees last month was remanded when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
David Burke was allegedly chopped to death after he confronted the accused, Rosyiade Cunningham, and two other men who were picking ackees from a tree in Burke’s yard without his permission.
Cunningham, of Kencot in Kingston 5, is charged with murder.
The police have alleged that on February 5 at about 8:00 am, Cunningham and two other men — who have so far eluded the police — went to Burke’s home at South Road in the community, to pick ackees.
It is alleged that Burke, a 35-year-old woodcarver, saw the men picking the ackees and an argument developed during which the men attacked and chopped him with machetes.
He was rushed to Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Cunningham was later arrested and charged but his alleged accomplices are reportedly on the run.
Yesterday, when the case was mentioned, the accused told the court that attorney Patrick Peterkin was representing him, but the lawyer was absent.
Consequently, Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey remanded Cunningham and rescheduled the matter for mention on March 23.
– Tanesha Mundle
This is one thing I despise about some ppl, their lack of respect for the property of others. Him meck sure him nuh go alone because he knew what he was doing is wrong and wanted the backup if the owner accosted him. Pity the owner did not have a licensed firearm fi deal wid dem.
One disagreement is all it takes fe de average person a JA go get dem knife, icepick, machete, acid, gun,bat, or whatever deadly thing it takes fe kill yu, or leave yu permanently damage fe life!
A so ackee get personal an Mi just stawt eat it wah day eno… a wah dis man!
Some people in JA damn wicked!! … Mi grandpa use to sell Banana to this sell and she would go downtown and make her profit from it. Now this lady had the heart to go next door my grandpa house – to buy from the neighbour at a cheaper price all while knowing who the land and everything belongs to – The big man next door can’t even plant but he’s a dippy – well f**king desperate and just as thief. He never sold anything to her again. Mi grandpa big 11 and 12 hand banana lmao (don’t even remember how big that is lol) but the point is that dem cruel pon many levels. On the other extreme is the people who kill you for stealing a cane or mango when him/her have nuff. Always ask first, if you ago theif don’t tek everything or the best.
Ah suh life dow have meaning again?