The father of Jamal Clarke told the No.3 Supreme Court on Tuesday that he last saw his son alive on the morning he died, before learning from Jamal’s twin brother that he had been shot and later died.
Erwin Clarke was giving evidence in the trial of Dario Orlando Taitt of Silver Sands, Christ Church, who is accused of murdering 30-year-old Jamal Clarke on May 2, 2023.
The elder Clarke testified that he had four children, including Jamal and his identical twin, Jamar, who were both given the nickname Bat Boys.
The deceased, who was unemployed at the time, lived with him at Bourne’s Land, while Jamar lived in Silver Sands.
“The last time I saw Jamal was the same morning before he left home before he died. He wake up his girlfriend and tell she: ‘Lemme carry you up by Skills Training’. She said they are not doing anything today and he said: ‘No, you still going and I laugh and say he running tings.”
Clarke said he left home 45 minutes later and went to the supermarket in Silver Sands, where a woman asked: ‘What are you doing in the supermarket line? Bat Boy get shoot’.
He said Jamar then called him and said he was at the hospital.
“`I said: ‘Wuh happen?’ Jamar said: ‘Daddy, Jamal get shoot, and I come at the hospital with he.’ Then five minutes later, Jamar call me back: ‘Daddy, Jamal dead.’ I said: “My man, take your time. Jamal already gone. We can’t bring he back. Take your time and drive up the road.
“On his way up, he call me again and say: ‘Daddy go back to the front road. The police either on the scene or on the way. When I get to the scene, that is where I butt the police.”
The next time Clarke saw his son was at the morgue, where he identified his body to police, he said.
During cross-examination by defence attorney Martie Garnes, the father was asked whether Jamal had a bad reputation in the area.
“I would not say he had a bad reputation. Jamal get in a couple scenes. I would say anytime, once you interfere with Jamal, he would represent himself,” Clarke said. He acknowledged that he knew his son had previous convictions for violent offences.
Witness Ron Clarke said he had known the deceased “from the time he was young going school”. He told the court that, on the morning in question, he went outside to feed his dogs and saw Jamal raking leaves and cleaning the unoccupied lot opposite.
He said several young men, including Jamal, would gather in the area. After a short conversation, Clarke went back inside before heading to the hardware shop, a five-minute walk away. He spent 15 minutes there before returning home.
He said he did not see Jamal on his return, adding: “On my way I saw some people putting someone in a black car and then the car went along.” The car was opposite the unoccupied lot.
The witness told the court he had not seen accused Dario Taitt in the area that morning.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney, acting Senior State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce and State Counsel Kwame Ramsay are prosecuting the case.
(JB)
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