While purporting to be an employee of Hanschell Inniss Distributors, Mark Rudolph Murrell swindled several persons out of cash between March and April this year.
Murrell, of 2nd Avenue Rendezvous High Ridge, Christ Church, admitted to three counts of stealing money when he went before Magistrate Douglas Frederick today. Those were that on March 20 he stole $176 belonging to Krystal Blackman-Burton; on April 21, $50 from Daniella King and $300 from Christina Charlemagne-Mayers on April 25.
On the first date, Murrell went into a store offering breakfast items for sale. Blackman-Burton, along with other workmates, bought packages of nuggets, tins of tuna, hotdogs and other items.
The manager of the store, who paid for items, accompanied Murrell through Shepherd Alley in the City, until Murrell told him at one point to “wait there” until he returned with the items. He never did.
Regarding the second charge, Constable Andrew Henry told the court that Danielle King knew Murrell by name, since he frequents the mobile store where she works.
On the date, Murrell called the woman and told her he now worked for Hanschell Inniss and had items for sale. Further, if her purchase totalled $50, she would get an extra package of drumettes. She placed an order and Murrell said he would deliver the items the following day.
When he arrived the next pay, Murrell said he did not have the list with him at the time and so took her order a second time. He took the woman outside and showed her a truck which was parked in an alley, saying it was his. She paid $50 to Murrell, who then asked for two bags to put the items in.
She handed over the bags but Murrell never returned with the meat products.
In the last instance, Murrell approached food-stall owner Christian Charlemagne-Mayers. She too was told that he was a Hanschell Inniss employee and had meat products for sale. After receiving $300 from the woman, Murrell promised to return with her order but did not.
Today, when the magistrate referred to Murrell’s previous convictions – which were for similar offences – he replied: “That is when I was on drugs Sir.”
Murrell said since he left prison three years ago, he worked for Nature Care but that contract ended and he has been only doing odd jobs since then to help his mother pay her bills.
The accused said the incidents occurred after his mother told him “she ain’t feeding no 44-year-old man.” He therefore “went and do something . . . went and buy some groceries and give my mother $20 to put in she pocket.”
Murrell also insisted that Charlemagne-Mayers “give me $80, she ain’t give me no $300.” He remarked that he would like to “pay back people their money” with a day’s pay which is due to him.
Magistrate Frederick told Murrell that he was “a very intelligent man . . . I am sorry you didn’t put it to good use.”
After hearing that he was sentenced to three months on each month to run consecutively, Murrell asked the court: “I don’t mean to be disrespectful or anything. But you really feel putting a man in prison will make he change?”
“I know it might not change you…although I would hope it would. But society will be protected from you,” the magistrate replied.