Man Charged with Murder of Rape Accused in Westmoreland

A man who reportedly chopped a rape accused to death during a physical confrontation in Burnt Savanna, Westmoreland, on Friday, June 16, has been charged with murder.

He has been identified as 45-year-old Churt Fletcher, labourer of Burnt Savanna, and he has been charged with the murder of 29-year-old Ian Johnson, otherwise called ‘Chiney Man’ labourer of Prospects district, also in Westmoreland.

Reports are that about 12:35am, Fletcher and Johnson were at a bar located at a section of the community called Stand Pipe, where they got involved in a physical confrontation.

Residents reported that one of the men left the scene and later returned with a machete, while the other man also armed himself with a machete, which they used to attack each other.

Fletcher reportedly chopped Johnson multiple times, severing his left hand.

He then attempted to flee the scene but was held by angry residents, who handed him over to the police.

Johnson was rushed to the Savanna-la-mar Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and following an investigation, Fletcher was subsequently charged.