Police ‘star witness’ backpeddles in baby murder case

Monty Hillocks, a chauffeur of Belmont who was named as a key witness in a murder case last year says that he was never and is now not a witness in the matter, although he is being referred to as such.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 the death of the baby, but his testimony was never given and on Tuesday April 26, 2017, after a no case submission by lawyers Grant Connell and Israel Bruce was upheld at the Serious Offences Court by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, Williams and McFee were freed.

But, in a strange twist of events, last October, Williams and McFee appeared at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court, re-charged with the baby’s murder. The case was sent directly to the High Court, but a date has not yet been set for the hearing of the matter.

On Wednesday, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Hillocks said that he would like the public to know that he is not a witness in the high-profile murder case. He said that although he made this clear to investigating officers, he understands that a statement he gave to police earlier was used to re-charge the men.

“Basically, about three weeks ago I did an affidavit and sent it to the police from a lawyer and then I went to police and gave a statement to verify that the affidavit was genuine. The reason for doing that is that I not a witness in that case,” said Hillocks.He said the earlier statement he had given was not true.“…I ain’t see nothing. I ain’t see who shoot at me.

When the scene (shooting) happen, through speculation you done know man come at me. I ain’t know who, people said things and I said things, but I ain’t see nothing. I just run when I heard gunshots, I don’t know if the man had on a white or black shirt or red or whatever,” said Hillocks.

“I just want to get the word out. Who to know done know that this going on already, but I just want to get this thing out because since I talk to the police about now knowing anything them ain’t say nothing, so my word coming like is just talk,” Hillocks further told SEARCHLIGHT.

“I done go and let the police know I told a lie and I don’t mind the public knowing that,” said Hillocks who added that it was reported that he did not turn up to court to give evidence, but persons should know also that he was never given a summons for court.“At the beginning it was made to look as if I said these men are who did this thing and the case going on because of me and I not coming to court.

They were making it look like I is the main witness and people shoot up my place and the police were supposed to say in court that I is not a main witness,” said Hillocks.Hillocks home was shot up on Saturday November 4, 2017. Reports are that someone or a group or persons riddled the home with bullets. No one was hurt.“I did done tell the police I was not going to court and the statement was a lie, next thing I hearing they used back the same statement to charge back the men and I had already told them that statement was not true. The man and them (James and McFee) innocent on da scene dey.

The men and them ain’t been dey,” stressed Hillocks.  Hillocks, 36, was in March 2017 freed of a charge of possession of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol without a licence and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition also without a licence.

When Hillocks appeared at the Serious Offence 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 allegedly found with the firearm and ammunition in the Arnos Vale area.