‘Lord Evil’ to know fate
TODAY IS decision day for Andre “Lord Evil” Omar Jackman.
This morning he will find out if he loses his freedom after police hauled him before the High Court yesterday for allegedly breaching one of the conditions of his bail on October 28.
His attorney is crying foul, saying Jackman was being singled out since he was not the only person to breach bail conditions.
Jackman, 38, of Stroud Bay Road, Crab Hill, St Lucy, is on $175 000 bail in connection with the May 10, 2016 murder of Charly Dume.
The accused appeared in the No. 4 Supreme Court yesterday before Acting Justice Alrick Scott who heard arguments from defence attorney Arthur Holder and his team of Shadia Simpson, Danielle Mottley and Rhea Layne.
Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas asked the court to exercise its discretion and revoke Jackman’s bail after he was caught in breach of his curfew, at 11:54 p.m., by police.
But Holder said the accused had been obeying the restrictions of his bail, including reporting to police daily.
The attorney further said even after the breach of his curfew, Jackson still continued to report to police.
“One day,” Holder later declared, adding: “He has complied with the curfew except for one day. Is that justice in this country?”
‘Prejudice’
He said the accused was being targeted because of who he was and because the breach is alleged to have occurred in the presence of the Commissioner of Police.
“My client, having complied with bail conditions since May 10, 2016, the police are saying his bail should be revoked based on being out at 11:45 p.m. on October 28, 2017, having complied with everything prior to that and everything after that. And tell me this isn’t prejudice and discrimination,” he said, adding the curfew violation was a “miniscule breach in terms of compliance with every other single condition”.
He said the prosecution was, by its submissions, asking the court to disregard all previous compliance by Jackman.
“Are you trying to tell me that this is the first time that any person granted bail breached a condition of a bail? And they ain’t went before the court?” he asked.
“I have seen people who have repeatedly breached bail conditions and they are never brought before the court for it to be revoked; more stringent conditions than those imposed on my client and breached them repeatedly, violate curfew, refused to report.”
The attorney said that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
“Justice has to be fair for everybody regardless of class, creed, religion, et cetera. It must be exhibited that way. You cannot particularise because of who he is. That is not what justice is all about,” said Holder.
“Our constitution protects everyone. It must be fair or at least appear to be fair.” (HLE)