Murder accused tells court of history of conflict with victim

Shakira Blackman told police that Shanice Miller had threatened her several times—including the day before the stabbing incident—when Miller allegedly said she would kill her.

Blackman, of Park Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, is on trial in the No. 4 Supreme Court, charged with murdering Miller on November 28, 2021.

In a recorded video interview played for the 11-member jury as the trial entered its fourth day, Blackman described previous altercations between the two women. She recalled that on Old Year’s Day 2019, she was in a toy store on Roebuck Street, The City, when she overheard someone say, “You does only got talk on IG.”

Looking back, she recognised Miller and another woman. Blackman said she walked away, but Miller followed her and eventually struck her, prompting a fight.

She said that during the altercation, the two women struck her in the back, kicked her in the face, and stepped on her. She said her dress was torn, and she did not wait for the police due to embarrassment. 

She told police that in February 2020, she again encountered Miller, who verbally threatened her. Blackman said she reported that incident and the previous one to the police.

Then, on November 26, 2021, the day before the fatal stabbing, Blackman said she saw Miller in The City again. “I gine kill you. You only got talk. I gine beat you again,” Miller reportedly told her. Blackman said she reported that threat to police as well.

The next morning, she was in a taxi on her way to the hairdresser when she saw Miller by the door of the salon.

“She speak to the taxi woman. The taxi woman speak to she. I froze and was shock. I wonder ‘Wuh she doing here?’ ‘Why is she by the door where I have an appointment?’ I was in the taxi for two minutes. I ran at her so she would run away. I was flinging it, she end up swiping with me. I fall down, I end up swiping it. She got up, ran. I ran down to get back in the taxi. The lady drive off. I end up running through the alley. I threw away the weapon and was trembling, shaking. I stop a van and de man ask me ‘wuh happening?’ and I was saying ‘I don’t know, I don’t know’. I just don’t know. That is what happened,” Blackman recounted.

She told investigators that the weapon was a knife she had in her bag. Asked why she stabbed Miller, Blackman replied: “I was frighten. I saw her there, so I thought she came for me.”

Miller succumbed to her injuries on November 28, the day after being stabbed.

The prosecution is being led by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC and State Counsel Maya Kellman. Blackman is represented by King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim and defence attorney Martie Garnes. Madam Justice Laurie-Anne Smith-Bovell is presiding.