‘I felt like a fool’

A witness huffed and puffed on Wednesday in the Home Circuit Court murder trial of Andre Ruddock in Kingston as defence attorney Anthony Williams cross-examined him about how he felt when his now-deceased pastor, Dr Kevin Smith, pushed his fingers into gunshot wounds he received in his back that were allegedly inflicted by the preacher. Ruddock is on trial for murder in relation to the October 17, 2021 killing of Taneka Gardner at the Kingdom Restoration Ministries International in Albion, St James. Smith was the pastor of the church and the witness who is on the stand said he was responsible for shearing the pastor’s head, helping him get dressed for church services, and carrying his Bible to the pulpit.

Ruddock’s duties surrounded providing security for Smith. After trying to avoid the question about how he felt at the time of the incident, the witness eventually told the court that he felt like a fool. He told the court previously that Smith shot him twice in the back and assured him that he was immortal and could not die.

He said that while he was in pain on the ground after being shot, Smith walked over to him and stuffed his fingers into the gunshot wounds. The witness also claimed that he was stabbed in the back by another member of the church, who was acting on Smith’s orders. Williams asked the witness to confirm that he told prosecutors during the trial which began last week, that he was shot in the back by Smith.

“That is correct,” the witness responded. Williams then prompted him to explain again what he told prosecutors took place after he was shot twice in the back by Smith. “You said he also used his hands to do what?” Smith asked.

“He pushed his fingers in the wound. I am more than positive [that happened]. I know for a fact, sir,” the witness said.

The attorney asked him how long the pastor had his fingers in his wounds. The witness, who had a perturbed look on his face, told Williams that he did not know. It was at the point when Williams began to ask the witness to explain how he felt while Smith was pushing his fingers in his wounds, that the witness started huffing and puffing.