Murder accused Omar Collymore, who allegedly hired men to kill his wife in 2018, was one of the beneficiaries on her life insurance policy which valued over $100 million.
This was disclosed on Tuesday in the murder trial underway at the Home Circuit Court in Kingston.
Businesswoman Simone Campbell-Collymore and a taxi driver, Winston Watson were shot and killed on January 2, 2018 on Stanley Terrace in Red Hills, St. Andrew.
Simone’s mother, was the first witness for the Crown.
Mahiri Stewart reports.
Simone’s mother said after her daughter died she found life insurance policy papers in a safe inside an office she shared with Omar.
She noted that the insurance policy was Simone’s and it valued $120 million.
Omar and her two children were the beneficiaries.
The witness said Simone spoke to her about the insurance policy four months before she died.
Meanwhile, Simone’s mother wept as she recounted the day she found out her daughter died.
She said she was at home when her husband, Simone’s father, called her frantically and told her their daughter was shot and injured.
Mrs. Campbell told the court she immediately picked up her phone and called Omar.
She said to him, “Omar, what happen tell me what happen.”
She said she asked him about three to four times.
But there was no answer.
She said she screamed out in shock, “yuh mean yuh tek mi Pickney out a mi house and guh get her killed.”
The witness testified that a man who identified himself as a policeman took the phone and spoke to her.
She said Omar didn’t attend his wife’s funeral.
Mrs. Campbell told the court that the night before her daughter was killed, she observed a strange car lurking on the road where she lived.
She was coming from church and upon reaching her house she realized she didn’t have her remote to open the gate.
Mrs. Campbell explained that while waiting to be let inside, a car drove by and stopped at the end of the road.
The car then passed her again and disappeared.
She said minutes later she saw the vehicle speeding towards her.
It stopped at her neighbour’s house, then drove back to where her vehicle was parked.
Mrs. Campbell said the driver rolled down his windows and stared into her vehicle in an attempt to see who was inside.
At that time, she said she became suspicious and started praying.
The vehicle then drove away.
Omar Collymore is charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.
He’s charged jointly with three others, Michael Adams, Dewayne Pink and Shaquile Edwards.
A fifth man, Wade Blackwood, who was one of the shooters, pleaded guilty to murder.
He was sentenced to life in prison in 2021.
Blackwood will be eligible for parole after serving 35-years.
The trial will resume on Thursday morning at 10.
