Police witness details discovery of Zamari McKay’s body in Klansman trial

A police detective gave evidence in the ongoing Klansman gang trial about his response to the scene where Zamari McKay’s body was discovered in St. Catherine in 2022.

The witness, now a detective sergeant, told the court he was a detective corporal at the time and was attached to the Portmore Police Station. He said that on August 11, 2022, after receiving a telephone call, he went to a section of Lakespen main road in St. Catherine.

When he arrived, the officer said police service vehicles were already at the location. He spoke with a corporal and later saw a man’s body lying face down in what appeared to be an illegal dumping area.

The court heard that the deceased was wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt, with the shirt partly covering his head. The witness said the man’s ankles were tied with a white merino. He also reported seeing spent shells near the body, along with what appeared to be blood.

According to his testimony, the body had several injuries to the upper back and neck. The area was secured, and the St. Catherine scenes of crime unit was called. After that team arrived, a police corporal processed both the scene and the body.

The detective sergeant said he later watched as a detective constable removed identification cards from the right back pocket of the deceased. Those items included a Jamaican driver’s licence and a Sierra ID.

The body was then turned onto its back so the face could be photographed. The witness said the face he observed matched the image on the driver’s licence recovered from the pocket.

His examination-in-chief is expected to continue on Wednesday. The evidence relates to counts 28 and 29, which concern the August 22 robbery and murder of Samari McKay. Carlos Williams, Germaine Clark and Owen Billings are the accused men named under those counts.