Archer confesses to manslaughter

Kyle Chad Rasheem Archer confessed to stabbing postman Basil Springer in the neck after a failed robbery attempt.

Principal State Counsel Oliver Thomas read these facts into evidence on Friday in the No. 2A Supreme Court, after Archer of Bayview Avenue, Bayville, St Michael, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 62-year-old Springer between March 5 and 11, 2020.

In his written statement, Archer told the police that a plan had been made to rob Springer, but that matters escalated after the co-accused “got rough.”

According to his statement, the plan involved getting two women to lure Springer. They brought Springer to Archer’s residence, where Archer and the co-accused ambushed him, restrained him with cable ties, and 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 the co-accused that the plan had failed again.

Archer said they drove Springer to a dark area in Culloden Road and admitted to stabbing Springer three times in the neck with a knife. He said the co-accused then threw Springer’s body into a well. He abandoned the knife near the well. He later used the deceased’s bank cards at Automated Teller Machines on March 6 and 7 and used the stolen money on personal and household expenses. He also drove Springer’s car, which was later found without number plates, which he said had been removed by the co-accused.

He told lawmen he intended to release Springer but acted out of fear due to the co-accused’s influence.

In his post-mortem of Springer’s body, Consultant Pathologist Dr Stephen Jones, said death was due to ligature strangulation.

Justice Elwood Watts ordered a presentence report, and the matter was adjourned until January 28 Attorney Desmond Sands represented Archer.