Stephanie Elliott, Gleaner Writer
CLARENDON:
LARRY RICHARDS, accused of the murder of Keisha Harvey, was denied bail last Thursday when he appeared in the May Pen Resident Magistrate's Court.
Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown however told Mr. Richard's attorney that he would consider bail this Thursday after the court is presented with forensic evidence aimed at implicating the accused.
Mr. Richards is from Orchid Avenue, Longville Park, Clarendon.
In applying for bail, Pierre Rogers, the attorney representing Mr. Richards, accused police investigators of "trying to piece together a case" against his client.
He said the evidence presented was purely circumstantial and argued that his client's injuries, which have been taken as evidence, are consistent with his gardening activities.
The usually sombre looking Mr. Richards sparked to life as his attorney laid down his arguments. With his first look of emotion since appearing in court on February 17, he smiled, shook his head and glanced around the court as if seeking approval.
UNREASONABLY DETAINED
Mr. Rogers continued to argue that his client was unreasonably detained and claimed that, with the evidence given, this should have not been the case. He said the action of the police was excessive as they had nothing on file to indicate that his client was guilty of murder.
The Court Clerk informed the court that Mr. Richards was taken into custody based on information that he was the last person to see the deceased alive on January 26. According to information read from the file, a burnt belt found at the murder scene belonged to the deceased's aunt and was in her bedroom, to which only the accused had access.
The Clerk added that statements collected from Mr. Richards after the deceased's body was found on January 28, contained several discrepancies and that he bore several marks on his body which were inconsistent with his claim that he had received them while gardening. She said that a partially burnt condom has also been sent to the Government Forensic Lab, along with DNA samples from the accused, to determine his alleged involvement.
Mr. Rogers noted that his client had willingly made himself available to the police for questioning and said that he should only have been charged on the basis of evidence.
Senior RM Brown said his reason for remanding the accused was that he was awaiting forensic evidence from the Government laboratory.
The matter was then set for Thursday, when forensic evidence in the matter is expected to become available.
Mr. Richards was taken into custody on January 28, after Miss Harvey's partially decomposed body was discovered under a pile of stones some 200 metres behind her home. The accused reportedly lived at the home with the deceased and her aunt.
