Jamaican man confesses to murder

A 28-year-old Jamaican-born man has confessed to his involvement in the stabbing deaths of an American couple on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten.

Reports say Meshane Kemar Johnson has also confessed to his involvement in a robbery of a restaurant last month.

He had previously denied any involvement in the killings last month of Michael and Thelma King, of South Carolina, at their oceanfront residence in the Dutch island nation.

Their bodies were discovered on September 21.

Yesterday, the General Solicitor in St Maarten, Taco Stein said the suspect appeared before a Judge who granted the prosecution's request for a pretrial detention of eight days.

Investigators are now working to confirm the details of the suspect's statements and are gathering additional evidence to present in court.

Investigators say they have also taken a 17-year-old man in custody in connection with the case.

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