FOUR MEN AND a 15-year-old juvenile appeared in the District “C” Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged in connection with a series of robberies and the shooting of a Canadian visitor in Bath, St John, just over a week ago.
Despite legal arguments from defence counsel, Magistrate Christopher Birch, who presided over the St Matthias Magistrates’ Court, remanded the men to Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds and the juvenile to the Government Industrial School (GIS), to reappear on April 22.
Damion Omar Brathwaite, 31, of Kendal Land, St John; Kyle Donniko Gill, 21, of near Danesbury, Black Rock, St Michael, along with the 15-year-old juvenile, are jointly accused of wounding with intent to maim, disfigure and disable Canadian Jonathan Huddle, who along with his family, was holidaying at the beachfront vacation property.
Huddle was shot in the upper left side after four masked men stormed the home.
Meanwhile, Brathwaite and Gill, along with 23-year-old Shevon Jamario Pitt, of Kendal Land, St John, and Rick Jabarri Clarke, 24, of Phillips Road, St Stephen’s Hill, Black Rock, St Michael, are also jointly accused of the aggravated burglary of the home of Steven Neuendorff, of Glenburnie, St John, and stealing over $14 953 in cash and articles. The offence is alleged to have occurred on March 3 and the men are accused of being armed with two firearms and a hammer.
In another matter, the same four are accused of entering the home of Heather Huddle while armed with a firearm and cutlass and stealing items valued at over $1 174.
Brathwaite, Gill and the juvenile, who turns 16 next month, are also jointly accused of illegally using a firearm on the same day Huddle was shot.
Prosecutor Station Sergeant Azel Skeete, in objecting to bail for each accused, said the incidents involved the use of a firearm and, as a result, under the Firearms Act, the sitting magistrate could not grant them bail.
He also informed the court that a sixth person was being charged in connection with the string of crimes but was absent from the court for medical reasons.
Attorneys at law Arthur Holder, Allan Carter and Gregory Nicholls appeared on behalf of the accused.
Relatives gathered outside the court compound to get a glimpse of the accused before they were taken away to jail and the GIS.
(TS)
