Court hears details about cop’s murder

by Fernella Wedderburn

Police Constable Shayne Welch sustained about 19 stab wounds on the day he met his death in his driveway two years ago.

Those details from the post-mortem conducted on the body of the 31-year-old who lived at Kingsland Terrace, Christ Church, were revealed today by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Donna Babb-Agard Q.C.

She said the pathologist’s report showed that Welch sustained the injuries all over his body, including the neck, chest and abdomen.

The island’s top prosecutor was giving the facts surrounding the events that led to Welch’s stabbing death on March 26, 2018. Applon Ishmael Ithamar Parris, 29, ofTaitt’s Road, Britton’s Hill, St Michael confessed to killing the policeman, pleading guilty before the
No. 2 Supreme Court to non-capital murder.

The DPP revealed before Justice Randall Worrell this morning, that Parris had been married to Diana Parris for five years when the deadly incident occurred. Their union appeared to be rocked with accusations of infidelity on both sides.

According to statements from witnesses in the case, Parris had confided in his employer that the marriage was going through challenges concerning a public incident involving Parris and a known person in Barbados. As such, his relationship with his wife was put on hold.

His wife, in her statement to police, also revealed that his behaviour towards her was possessive and she was encouraged to spend more time away from home.

She considered herself a verbally-abused spouse and told Parris that she wanted a divorce, according to her statement. As she saw it, they were separated since 2017 as they were not in an intimate relationship even though they lived in the same house.

The woman, who is also a police officer, informed her husband that she was going out with colleagues on the night of March 25, 2018, but according to the facts, her husband was suspicious of his wife’s close friends, and especially of her relationship with the deceased.

On the night in question, Parris kept calling his wife’s cellular phone, enquiring about her location and when she was getting home. She told him not to wait up.

Parris, meantime, left home on his motorcycle and went in search of his wife.

He would later locate her at Welch’s residence in Kingsland.

It was about 5:30 a.m. when Parris stated thumping on Welch’s door and shouting for his wife.

He smashed the window, entered the house and shouted insults at his wife, accusing her of infidelity.

At that same time, Welch was at the back of his residence washing his face, since Parris had sprayed him with mace.

Parris took out his cellular phone and recorded his naked wife, threatening to embarrass her if she did not leave with him. He subsequently circulated the video on social media when she refused.

He then got on his motorcycle and left the area for a short period, but returned. His wife, who was sitting in Welch’s car, said she heard a commotion and turned around to see her husband and Welch scuffling.

She rushed towards them and tried to prevent her husband from stabbing Welch.

According to the facts, she got cut in the process of trying to grab the knife from him.

During the scuffle, Parris stabbed Welch numerous times and the victim became unresponsive.

Parris then fled the scene on his motorcycle to Flatfield, St Lucy where he concealed the bike, helmet and a bag. He had also visited and confided in his employer, saying that he thought he had killed someone and claiming he was going to take his life. He also told the employer he had sent him a video on his cell phone.

During police investigations, Parris made contact with one of the officers via phone and said, “I would soon die. I stab myself in my chest. I feel I have a collapsed lung.”

The accused, however, refused to reveal his location. He made contact with his wife and informed her of his whereabouts which she relayed to the police.

She went to one of those locations on March 27, 2018 along with the police. They found Parris armed with a knife, behaving in a threatening manner.

When he was told by police to drop the knife, he shouted, “Do it, do it!”

He was told to drop the knife again and he refused. Fearing for their safety, one of the officers drew his service revolver.

Parris continued: “You got to kill me. I ain’t going to prison.”

The DPP said lawmen tried to speak to him again and he refused to comply. He was subsequently shot in the thigh in the officers’ bid to disarm and subdue him.

On his arrest, he told the police, “This is the knife I stab Shayne with.” He was taken to the hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Under questioning, he was told of his rights to an attorney and he contacted one and voluntarily made oral statements to police, but refused to give a written statement.

Parris’ case will continue on February 15, 2021 when his attorney, Safiya Moore, and the DPP will make submissions on sentencing.