News

'Zekes' still in custody

By KAVELLE ANGLIN-CHRISTIE AND WANDEKA GAYLE, Staff Reporters

MATTHEWS LANE AREA leader Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, was still in police custody, up to late yesterday when THE STAR checked.

Phipps is being questioned in relation to two murders committed in West Kingston last month.

Churchill Neita, Phipps' lawyer, told THE STAR that his client was being housed at the Gun Court. "This morning I tried contacting the police to ascertain whether my client will be charged, how long he will be held for, or anything, but efforts to contact them have not met with any success," Neita said.

However, to add to Phipps' troubles, he was slapped with possession of ganja, and abstracting electricity yesterday, when the police carried out raids at his house in West Kingston.

Phipps was held in connection with two counts of murder at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's court on Wednesday. He appeared there to answer to drug related charges, but was held in connection to two murders committed in West Kingston a month ago.

The men were shot, then burnt in an open lot on Rose Lane. The police reported that the bodies were found burning at Rose Lane at 5:00 a.m., on Friday, April 16.

They were identified as Leroy Farquharson of Bayshore, Harbour View and a man known only as 'Scotch Brite.'

Acting Commissioner George Williams told THE STAR that the seven Matthews Lane residents, detained after 22 rounds of ammunition, an enforcer rifle, one magazine, a black plastic bag containing ganja and chillum pipes were seized on Wednesday, were released later that day.

Williams said the police will be maintaining a strong presence in the area. On Wednesday, the residents had staged a demonstration calling for Zekes' release.