Andrea Lowe-Garwood was a former banker who was shot and killed in a church in Trelawny, Jamaica, in January 2021. Her murder shocked the nation and raised questions about the motive behind the brutal crime. Here is what we know about the case and the outcome.
The Shooting
On January 31, 2021, Andrea Lowe-Garwood was attending a service at the Agape Christian Fellowship in Falmouth, Trelawny. She was sitting in the front row when a man entered the church and sat behind her. As she stood up to pray, the man pulled out a gun and fired four shots at her head. He then ran out of the church and escaped in a waiting car. Lowe-Garwood was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead5.
The Investigation
The police launched an investigation into the murder and soon arrested three suspects: Dwight Bingham, Leon Hines, and Javon Garwood. Bingham was identified as the triggerman, Hines as the getaway driver, and Javon Garwood as the stepson of Lowe-Garwood. The police alleged that Javon Garwood hired Bingham and Hines to kill his stepmother, who was involved in a dispute over the properties of her late husband, Javon’s father.
The Trial
The trial of the three accused began in July 2021 in the Trelawny Circuit Court. Bingham and Hines pleaded guilty to their roles in the murder and agreed to testify against Javon Garwood. However, Bingham changed his mind and refused to cooperate with the prosecution. As a result, the case against Javon Garwood collapsed and he was acquitted by the jury.
The Sentence
On July 27, 2021, Bingham was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder of Lowe-Garwood. He will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. He also had three years deducted from his sentence for the time he spent in custody. Hines was sentenced to six years in prison for being an accessory to the murder.
The Reaction
The sentence of Bingham was welcomed by the Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, who said that justice was served despite the challenges and complexities of the case. She praised the work of the investigators and prosecutors who gathered and presented the evidence. She also commended Hines for his cooperation with the authorities.
“I must praise Mr Hines for his cooperation with the investigation. His statement against Mr Bingham was so overwhelming that Mr Bingham had no choice but to plead guilty,” stated Llewellyn.
Many persons expressed sympathy for Lowe-Garwood’s family and friends, who had to endure the loss of their loved one and the ordeal of the trial.
Andrea Lowe-Garwood was remembered as a kind, generous, and hardworking woman who loved her family and her church. She was a manager at the National Commercial Bank and a mother of two children.
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