April 26, 2024
Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Jamaica
NEWS

Cops kill wanted man in St Ann

A man charged for the murder of a security guard, over three years ago, was shot dead by police in Clarksonville, near Alexandria St Ann on Friday, April 11, 2014 Dead is Kirk Rose, of Thatchwalk, near Alexandria. He is the third man to be killed by police in the Alexandria police division in  less than a month following the controversial fatal shooting by police of two men following a robbery in Alexandria, two weeks ago. Police say Rose, an ex-convict was wanted on a warrant after he absconded bail in a case where he was jointly charged for the murder of 37-year-old security guard Morris Higgins of Madras, St Ann. Police said they went in search of Rose and about 10:30 he was spotted in Clarksonville and fired at the police. He was shot and killed and a homemade shot gun reportedly recovered from him. Rose and Kirk Dyce were charged August 26, 2011, for the December 17, 2010 murder of Higgins   who was shot and killed at Club Caribbean apartment complex in Salem, Runaway Bay. Rose had been jailed for twelve years in a case in which he was charged with robbery with aggravation in which he used an illegal firearm. He was released in 2009 and was implicated in Higgins’ murder just over a year later. He was granted bail, in the sum of $250,000, August 2011, two years after he was charged and taken into custody. He did not attend court November 18 when the case was called up in the St Ann Circuit Court. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

BACKGROUND

 

Reports are that at about 4:30 a.m. on the morning of December 17, 2010, four armed men went to the Club Caribbean Apartment Complex, where they held up the security guard and made demands.  Reports are that the men took the guard to a room at the apartment where he was shot multiple times. The police later arrived on the scene after receiving reports of shootings in the area.  Higgins’ body was found. Several spend shells and warheads were recovered from the scene. Based on investigations carried out by the police Rose and Dyce were arrested and charged. The investigating officer (I/O) said that after Rose was arrested he said he was not a part of the crime, but a witness.  However, Rose denied these allegations in court saying the officer wanted him to lie so that the co-accused would be convicted.  Rose further stated that he was seeing the co-accused for the first time when they appeared before RM Dale Palmer on Wednesday, September 7, 2011. The IO says that Rose gave a cautioned statement in the presence of two Justices of the Peace when he was arrested.  He was later questioned in the presence of an attorney. Rose who is an ex-convict, says he is being accused because of his past.  Rose was released from prison in 2009 after serving 12 years for charges of armed robbery. Kirk Dyce is also before the St Ann Circuit court on charges of illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent. Both men were remanded in custody and were later assigned lawyers.