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The jury in the Andre Ruddock murder trial has begun its deliberations at the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston, according to the Jamaica Observer. Judge Leighton Pusey sent the seven jurors to the jury room at 12:46 pm on November 9, 2026, instructing them to weigh the evidence presented throughout the trial and determine whether Ruddock is guilty or not guilty of murder.
Ruddock stands accused of killing 39-year-old Taneka Gardner on October 17, 2021. The prosecution alleges that Ruddock cut Gardner’s throat at the Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in St James, acting on instructions from Kevin Smith, who was serving as pastor at the time.
The trial, which began on September 16, 2026, presented testimony from 12 witnesses who appeared in court, along with evidence from a 13th witness whose statements and documents were admitted by agreement between the defence and prosecution teams. The defence was represented by Anthony Williams and Venice Brown, while prosecutors LaToya Bernard and Carolyn Wright presented the Crown’s case. The jury must now determine the facts based on all evidence heard and seen during the proceedings.
The case involves the death of Taneka Gardner at a religious facility in St James. According to the Jamaica Observer, the trial has proceeded through the Home Circuit Court system in Kingston, with both defence and prosecution presenting their arguments over several weeks beginning in September 2026.
This high-profile murder trial reflects Jamaica’s ongoing engagement with its criminal justice system and the serious crimes that affect communities across the island. The case draws public attention to violence within religious institutions and the judicial process that determines accountability.
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