The man who pleaded guilty to the murder of his girlfriend in 2017 has been sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 24 years. In April 2017 Ayele Russell stabbed and buried Nadian Dyer who he was living with at the time. After the murder, he fled the country and was arrested last in 2021. The office of the director of Public Prosecution confirmed the updates in a release following his appearance in the Westmoreland Circuit Court, Wednesday.
The timeline of events was outlined.
In 2016, 24-year-old Nadian Dyer and her infant daughter moved in with then 21-year-old Russell at the back of a family house in Negril, Westmoreland.
Fast forward to April 2017. Witnesses overheard several arguments between the accused and the deceased.
On April 17, 2017, the deceased and the accused were overheard in their room quarreling again. The next day, there was a strong scent of disinfectant coming from the room of the accused. Nadian was never seen alive after that day.
On Sunday, April 23, 2017, Russell was seen leaving his home with a knapsack. He later informed a family member that he was in New York.
Meanwhile, Nadian’s mother, growing concerned, visited the police station on several occasions. On June 5, 2017, the mother along with police visited the home. There, police noticed a bloodied mattress against a wall as well as a section of the room where cement was apparently mixed. Upon moving the mattress, a rectangular block and cement structure was found.
Two days later, on June 7, 2017, the officers returned with a jackhammer to break down the structure. Inside, was the body of Nadian Dyer wrapped in plastic, covered in zinc. After serving time for an offence committed in the United States, Russell was deported, and on the 1st day of August last year, was informed of the murder. When cautioned, he said, “mi want mi lawyer”.
Prior to the handing down of the sentence, the accused spoke to the mother of the deceased who was present on the virtual platform, he said “good afternoon, this is Ayele Russell. I would like to apologize to [the mother] and her family. It was only in a moment of passion.
Every day I am searching for Nadian. Me love Nadian. Miss her. Think about her every day. It was in a moment of passion. I am sorry about that. I am sorry.”
Russell will be eligible for parole after 24 years.
Reporter: Jhanielle Powell
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