Jamaican freed from murder cases after being deported from US

Oral Nelson, a 32-year-old Jamaican who underwent a double murder charge quickly after he was deported from the United States of America in 2019, was freed last week of the case but stated the ordeal had left him depressed.

“My removal has severely affected my 12-year-old daughter, who, to this day cannot comprehend why I am not with the family,” said Nelson.

He went to the US in September 2015 as a limited permanent resident after his wife had arranged for him.

On May 31, 2018, Nelson says he was at the house with his wife and their daughter when he was brought into custody by the St Louis City police on suspicion of dealing in drugs.

After informing the police of his origin, he was told that a “hold” had been put on him and he was given into the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement representatives.

Nelson says he was charged on June 4, 2018, that he had no status in the USA because his green card had died.

When he appeared before the Immigration Court, a spokesperson of Homeland Security reportedly stated that an arrest warrant for Nelson had been issued in Jamaica.

Nelson was among 60 Jamaicans dismissed in August last year.

On his arrival, he was put in custody and charged with the murders of Barrington Hutchinson and Fabian Tucker. They were shot dead on Henderson Avenue, 2015.

Attorney-at-law Everton Bird who expressed Nelson said committal proceedings began on October 7 this year in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court and was also adjourned to November 12.

Bird explained that the main government witness denied giving the report which was served on the defence.

Bird further revealed that the observer gave a second statement on November 26 in which he said that the words in the first statement, had excellent English and cannot be his words as he could not speak English like that, having grown up in a garrison town all his life.

In the second statement, the witness made it clear that he could not see who shot the men because he was working when he heard the shots.

The parish judge, in discharging Nelson, said that in the second statement, the witness stated specifically that he “could not know the person’s face.”

Nelson is upset that he was denied bail and had to spend more than a year in custody before he was acquitted.

“It bothers me to know that the policemen could have assigned a warrant for my arrest based on report evidence.”