Guyanese Jamal Jefferson Woolford on Monday appeared before a St Maarten court charged with the brutal murders of an American couple last month on the island, according to the SMN News.
A report by the news agency said that Woolford, 20, became the third person charged in the murders of American citizens Michael and Thelma King, which occurred between September 19 and September 21. He is also accused of being involved in the armed robbery of the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant on the same date, the report said.
Woolford, according to the report, managed to escape from St. Maarten last week Wednesday when he booked a flight to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where he was arrested upon arrival by the FBI.
On Wednesday, it had reported that the first suspect, Meyshane Kemar Johnson, had confessed to police that he was involved in the murders.
It noted that from all indications Woolford was monitoring the news and when he saw Johnson had confessed, he tried to escape from the St. Maarten judicial system. SMN News said it learnt that when Woolford was arrested in the US Virgin Islands, he was informed that he could face the death penalty if the case is tried in the US territory.
The source said at that point Woolford waived his rights to extradition and he was brought back to St. Maarten on Friday, where he was immediately arrested.
Woolford is said to be a former student of the St. Maarten Academy (PSVE) and he had also received a government scholarship for the SBO marine programme, which he completed. He is the second former St. Maarten Academy (PSVE) student arrested in the murder case. Jeremiah Chevon Mills and Woolford both attended the PSVE and were close friends and school mates.
Woolford was living with his girlfriend in an apartment in Cay Hill at the time of his arrest. He left St. Maarten on a Guyanese passport, since he is the holder of a US 10-year visa.
