PHIPPS
WELL-KNOWN MATTHEWS Lane resident Donald 'Zekes' Phipps was denied bail when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday.
Phipps and Kingston labourer Garfield Williams are facing a double murder charge.
Justice Horace Marsh ordered the two men to return to court on July 27.
The men are charged with the murder of Rodney Leroy Farquharson and Dayton Williams of Bayshore Park, east Kingston. The burnt bodies of the two were discovered on April 15 in an open lot at Rose Lane near to Matthews Lane, downtown Kingston.
When Phipps and Williams appeared in court yesterday, K. Churchill Neita, Q.C., who represents Phipps, applied for bail.
WITNESSES SECURITY
However, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Donald Bryan opposed the application. He pointed out that it was being alleged that while Phipps was on bail on another charge involving illegal possession of ammunition, he allegedly committed the murders. Mr. Bryan said the security of the witnesses had to be considered and the fact that Phipps was facing two counts of murder, which were serious offences.
Phipps also faces charges for unlawful possession of over $18 million, which was found by police at his upper St. Andrew home on May 21.
