Man says Dr Kevin Smith shot him twice and said he was now 'immortal'

A former member of Pathways International Church broke down in court while recounting how the church’s now-deceased leader, Dr Kevin Smith, allegedly shot him twice in the back and then told him he could not die.

The witness, whose name is being withheld by order of the judge, sobbed openly while testifying in the murder trial of Andre Ruddock.

He was given a short break to compose himself before continuing his testimony.

The witness said Smith had taken a firearm from a female police officer who was at the church and began firing at police.

He said he took cover behind a column but later heard a loud explosion and realised he had been shot.

“I felt like I got a hard punch, then I fell down,” he testified.

According to the witness, Smith then pushed his finger into the gunshot wound and told him: “You are immortal; you cannot die.”

The witness also recalled being stabbed in the back before Smith allegedly declared that his throat must be cut.

Ruddock is on trial for the October 17, 2021 murder of 39-year-old Taneka Gardner, who prosecutors allege was killed during a sacrificial ritual at the church.

Smith died about a week later in a motor vehicle crash while being transported to Kingston to face criminal charges.

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