The arrest of 26-year old Telescope resident Shaka Aaron Croney comes seven (7) days after Kendon Berkeley, 43, a well-known primary school teacher, caterer, and event planner in the parish of St. Andrew was laid to rest last week Tuesday.
Croney was charged with the offense of Non-Capital Murder on Tuesday, as police investigators made a major breakthrough in connection with the gruesome killing of Berkeley approximately two (2) months ago.
Several onlookers flocked the outskirts of the Grenville Magistrate’s Court to get a good look at the murder accused as he made his first appearance before Magistrate Kina Marrast-Victor on Wednesday morning.
Croney, who was not represented by counsel, was not required to enter a plea in the indictable matter and was remanded to the Richmond Hill Prison until October 4.
The suspect was reportedly picked up by police investigators during the early stage of their investigation, questioned and released.
Croney is said to be very familiar with Berkeley and often assisted him in house chores.
Berkeley was reportedly found dead at his home in Telescope, St. Andrew with multiple chop wounds to his body on July 14.
THE NEW TODAY understands that detectives also discovered two (2) boxes of food at his home, which seemed to suggest that he was having a meal with someone.
According to a police source, the body bore acts of violence with a wound from a knife, which came from one side of the neck and protruded right through the other side.
Berkeley, who taught at the St. Andrew’s Methodist school, was also stabbed in the chest.
Law enforcement officers who have been grappling with a wave of violent crimes in the country in recent weeks are now concentrating their attention on the June 18 murder of LGBT member, Josiah “Jonty” Robinson whose body was discovered on BBC Beach in the south of the island.