Home of key witness in baby murder case shot up

The home of a man who was recently cleared of a charge of firearm possession, and who is now a key witness in a murder case, was shot up on Saturday night.

Reports are that someone, or a group of persons riddled with bullets the home of Belmont resident and chauffeur Monty Hillocks.

No one was hurt.

Hillocks, 36, was, back in March, freed of a charge of possession of a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol without a licence and 14 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, also without a licence.

When Hillocks appeared at the Serious Offences Court, he was told by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias that the charge against him had been discontinued and he was free to go. Hillocks was charged in November 2016, after he was found with the firearm and ammunition in the Arnos Vale area.

On Friday, October 7, 2016, a gunman shot at Hillocks while he was at the home of Mozart Lee in Glen. Hillocks escaped unhurt, but 10-month-old Mozari Lee was hit by a bullet and died, while the baby’s parents, Mozart Lee and Shelly-Ann Durham, were also shot, but survived.

Hillocks was later named as a key witness in the murder case when Villa residents Martin “Jah-son” James and Ricardo “Shrek” McFee were charged for Mozari’s death.

His testimony was, however, never given and on Tuesday, April 26, after a no case submission by lawyers Grant Connell and Israel Bruce was upheld by Chief Magistrate Browne-Matthias at the Serious Offences Court, Williams and McFee were freed.  

But, last week, on October 31, James and McFee appeared at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court and were charged once again with the October 7, 2016 murder of the baby.

Both men are expected to appear at the High Court in Kingstown today, where a date will be set for the hearing of their case.

It is not sure if Hillocks will testify this time around, but some persons have speculated that the shooting up of Hillocks’ home is linked with the charge of murder which has been brought against James and McFee.