Alleged common-law wife killer denied bail

MONTEGO BAY, St James — After six months on the run, Oral Thompson appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, charged with the murder of his common-law spouse, 53-year-old Junithe Hickey, of Goodwill, Anchovy, St James. He was remanded in custody until November 18 when the matter will be back before the court. Hickey died following an incident in March this year at premises in Mount Salem, where residents reportedly heard a commotion coming from the yard. Residents subsequently saw Hickey, covered in blood, running along Valencia Drive, Mount Salem, towards her son’s home. She collapsed at the gate before anyone could render assistance. Police who responded to the incident reportedly observed what appeared to be multiple chop wounds to Hickey’s left hand. She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Thompson was arrested in Clarendon in September, six months after the incident. When Thompson appeared in court on Wednesday it was revealed that, at the time of Hickey’s death, he was being sought by the police in connection with another matter of a similar nature in Clarendon. The court was told that Thompson — who the Clarendon police had on their most wanted list with the aliases Jus Bake or Ronny — had been charged with the attempted murder of the mother of one of his children. According to the clerk of the court, Thompson was taken into custody after he was seen at a bar by members of a police team. He allegedly went into a motor car and lay on the back seat in an attempt to evade the cops. The court was told that the police called out to Thompson after identifying him from a photograph provided by his son, and information supplied by their colleagues in connection with the attempted murder of the mother of one of his children. He allegedly denied that he was the person they were looking for and told the cops that his name was Kevin Thompson. When the allegations were read to him by the cops, Thompson reportedly pleaded with them for mercy. It was reported in court that Thompson told the cops his house had been destroyed in a fire and that he had no identification to prove his identity. In opposing bail the prosecution pointed out that Thompson was not apprehended until September, despite the incident occurring in March. The court also heard that he had been featured on the police’s Wanted Wednesdays’ initiative on several occasions but had failed to report to the police. The judge then denied Thompson bail and ordered him remanded.