Three men accused of luring teen girls to Portmore motel freed

Three men, including two brothers, who were accused of luring three underage girls to a motel located along the popular 'back road' in Portmore, St Catherine were today freed in court after their attorney argued that they did not have a case to answer.

A committal hearing was held in the parish court today for the abduction case against 21-year-old Andre Barrett and brothers 20-year-old Kenrick Smalling and 22-year-old Ricky Smalling, all of Greater Portmore addresses, to be transferred to the circuit court.

During the proceedings, their attorney Cammesha Harrison argued that a prima facie against was not mounted by the crown.

Presiding Senior Parish Court Judge Yvette Wenthworth-Miller upheld the submission and freed the men.

Information before the court was that on July 1, 2023 a parent of one of the girls had alerted the police that their child was with men at a motel located along Port Henderson Road.

The police then swooped down on the property and three girls – ages 11,12 and 13, were found.

According to the police, investigations revealed that the girls were lured to the motel by the accused men.

The men were not found at the property.

They were subsequently intercepted along the main road in Newland, which is also in Portmore.

They were taken into custody and were subsequently charged with abduction.

They made numerous court appearances and maintained their innocence throughout. 

- Rasbert Turner

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