Colleton man convicted of second murder

A 12-member jury has found Gabriel Shando Hayde guilty of killing Roger Moore more than five years ago.

Hayde, 29, of Colleton Tenantry, and Dontai Hardingof Sargeant Street, both in St John, had been charged with murdering 30-year-old Moore, formerly of Bath Land, St John, on August 18, 2020. The trial began in the No. 3 Supreme Court last month.

Following a successful no-case submission by Harding’s attorney, Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, Justice Carlisle Greaves ruled that there was no case for him to answer, and directed the jury to return a not-guilty verdict for Harding.

The trial continued with Hayde as the sole accused. In an unsworn statement from the dock, he maintained his innocence, claiming he was in St Philip at the time of the slaying.

After Justice Greaves’ summation on Friday, the jury deliberated for more than two hours before returning the guilty verdict. Sentencing was set for February 27.

Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney and State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce appeared for the State, while defence attorney Safiya Moore represented Hayde.

Last May, Hayde was convicted in the No. 4 Supreme Court of murdering Kerwin Howell, 26, of Gall Hill, St John, on February 16, 2020. He is due to be sentenced in that case by Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell on February 13.