Ruddock claims he was pressured to make murder confession

Murder accused Andre Ruddock on Monday testified that a police constable assaulted him, threatened him with a gun, and pressured him to take the blame for Taneka Gardner’s killing on behalf of church leader Kevin Smith.

Ruddock, who is on trial for Gardner’s murder in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston, said the cop also coerced him into confessing to the killing and providing a caution statement.

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The 36-year-old farmer, who was giving evidence in his own defence as the trial entered the defence stage, said he was repeatedly assaulted and intimidated by the constable, who allegedly wanted him to accept responsibility for the October 17, 2021 murder.