After their plans to get money from postman Basil Springer failed, Kyle Chad Rasheem Archer and Jamar Darnelle Mottley stabbed him and threw him into a well.
These facts were revealed as Principal State Counsel Oliver Thomas read Archer’s statement to police in the No. 2 Supreme Court before Justice Randall Worrell.
Archer, 30, a well digger from Bayview Avenue, Bayville, St Michael, and Mottley, 36, a cleaner, of Lower Dayrells Road, Christ Church, confessed to murdering 62-year-old Springer between March 5 and 11, 2020.
Archer told lawmen that Mottley contacted him, telling him he knew where they could get a large sum of money – from a man who lived nearby who brought in Jamaican women and had a lot of cash inside.
The two men got Springer’s number and brought two women into their plan.
“The plan was for the two women to call the man and when the man come to meet them, we would rob the man. Things didn’t go as planned and as a result he ended up by me,” the statement read.
Mottley was already at the house and the two women and Springer went into the bedroom and Mottley rushed at the man.
“I step out and grabble him. By this time, the women had already left. Mottley then put the man on the ground on his belly and tied his hands behind his back,” Archer continued.
They put Springer to sit on the bed, covered his head with a sheet and began questioning him about who was at his home. They then forced him to call his brother and tell him that a woman was coming to collect his bank cards and some money.
Archer used Springer’s car, picked up the women and took them to Springer’s residence. One of the women went to the house, but returned a few minutes later saying that Springer’s brother had asked why he could not collect the items himself. They drove away, Archer dropped off the women and returned to his house where he told Mottley that the plan had failed again. Mottley forced Springer to call his brother once more, who kept asking him if he was alright and if to contact the police.
Mottley and Archer men then debated their next step.
“I did want the man out of my house and I let Mottley know he got to let go this man. Mottley allow me to know it is jail. I tell he I wasn’t worried bout that part, I just want the man gone,” Archer told the police.
He added that as he took a knife from the kitchen to cut the cable ties binding Springer, Mottley stopped him and told him to take Springer away from the house and release him in a dark area. They drove him to an area in Culloden Road, took him out of the car, placed him on the ground and Mottley tried to suffocate him but failed. Springer kept telling them he would not go to the police.
Archer said after Mottley kept provoking him, he stabbed Springer in the neck four times and walked off.
“I know for certain that Basil wasn’t dead yet . . . . I wanted Mottley to think that by me causing some type of injury to this man that he would just come along and we would go about we business. But as a result, Mottley took Basil and put him head first into the well,” the statement continued.
Archer then drove the car to George Street and parked it and walked home with Mottley.
In his interview with police, Mottley said that Archer drove the car and stopped a short distance from the well before taking off the boards that were covering it, and they both put Springer in the well and covered it.
According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death was determined to be ligature strangulation.
Archer is represented by attorney Sian Lange, while Mottley’s defence team comprises Dr Lenda Blackman and Simon Clarke.
The matter was adjourned to September 16 when sentencing submissions will be heard from the State and the defence.
