Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
EGBERT DRYDEN, 54-year-old former driver of Raymoth Notice, ex-mayor of Spanish Town appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court yesterday to answer two counts of conspiracy to murder.
According to investigating officer Detective Inspector Mevral Smith, on June 27, about 7:00 a.m., an eye witness reported that he saw Mr. Dryden picking up spent shells in the High Mountain area following the shooting death of 29-year-old Christine Chin and 48-year-old Elaine Kaine.
AWAKENED BY GUNSHOTS
Inspector Smith told the court that on the morning in question, both women were in their house sleeping when they were awakened by the sound of gunshots. He said that Kaine was killed on the spot, after receiving several shots all over her body. Chin later died in hospital from gunshot wounds she received to her forehead and upper body.
The Detective Inspector told Resident Magistrate Carol Edwards that he charged Mr. Dryden because of the action that he took after the women were killed and that he had been identified by his nephew.
However, defence attorney Earl Hamilton, in applying for bail told the court that he could provide witnesses who were able to verify his client's whereabouts at the time of the murders. He added that there was an ongoing feud in the community and that the police were contending that Dryden's son, Wayne, was one of the men guilty of the shooting.
Noting that "something does not smell good about this case", the RM then ordered that Dryden be remanded in custody until July 21. She also ordered the investigating officer to collect the additional statements to complete the file.
