A police officer testified that the accused told him ‘a me kill Taneka’ moments after arriving at the church scene in October 2021.
A detective constable took the witness stand in the Home Circuit Court murder trial of Andre Ruddock, testifying that the accused confessed to killing 39-year-old Taneka Gardner at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Albion, St James. According to the Jamaica Observer, the officer reported that Ruddock immediately began speaking after being cautioned, stating “a me kill Taneka, mi naa go tell you no lie and mi ago tell you everything weh happen.”
Gardner was killed on October 17, 2021, in what has been characterized as a human sacrifice ritual. The detective’s account suggests that Ruddock allegedly cut Gardner’s throat on the instructions of now-deceased pastor Dr Kevin Smith, who was also present at the scene when police arrived. According to the testimony, Smith had allegedly told Gardner that her blood was unclean and therefore she had to die, and had asked whether she believed he could bring her back to life if she were killed.
When questioned by the detective about how he killed Gardner, Ruddock allegedly responded that he cut her neck. When asked why, he stated he received instructions to do so. The officer testified that when asked who gave those instructions, Ruddock did not respond verbally but looked toward the gate where Smith had been standing. Both Ruddock and Gardner were members of Smith’s congregation.
Ruddock is the seventh witness to testify in the trial, which is being prosecuted by Latoya Bernard and Carolyn Wright. The defense team, led by attorneys Anthony Williams and Venice Brown, is preparing to cross-examine the detective constable.
Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries operated in Albion, St James under the leadership of Dr Kevin Smith. The church became the center of a criminal investigation following Gardner’s death in October 2021, with allegations that the killing was part of a ritualistic practice within the congregation.
This case represents a significant moment in Jamaica’s criminal justice system, drawing public attention to the intersection of religious authority, cult-like practices, and accountability. The trial underscores concerns about vulnerable individuals within religious organizations and the legal mechanisms available to protect them.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: News · Island routing: Jamaica