May Pen, CLARENDON
The absence of forensic evidence to cement the case against Larry Richards, the man implicated in the murder of 24-year-old Keisha Harvey, has resulted in him being offered bail at $2 million with one to four sureties. Other conditions of bail are that he
surrender all travel documents
and report to the May Pen
Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown had indicated at the last court sitting on February 23, that he would grant the accused bail, but was awaiting forensic evidence that should have been made available for court on Thursday. When the matter was called up for mention, attorney-at-law representing the accused, Pierre Rogers, said he was disconcerted by the time taken to present forensic evidence to the court.
Stephanie Elliott
Lluidas Vale, ST. CATHERINE
The newly installed Bailey bridge which connects Point Hill and Lluidas Vale in the parish of St. Catherine is now open to vehicular traffic.
The bridge's construction became necessary when the existing roadway was washed away by flood rains associated with Hurricane Wilma last year.
In addition to being a gateway for private motor vehicles and taxi cabs, it serves as a transport route for sugar cane being trucked from Point Hill and Innswood Estates to the Worthy Park Sugar Factory.
Elgin Taylor
May Pen, CLARENDON
The Crofts Hill police have managed to successfully recapture a murder suspect who reportedly escaped their custody on February 26, after breaking loose from ropes he was bound with by residents.
He has been identified as 28-year-old Charles Douglas otherwise called 'Charles Bronson', of Castle district, St. Ann. He is accused of murdering Viola Francis, a 62-year-old farmer of Taits district, Clarendon.
According to relatives of the deceased, the accused man and Francis' daughter, Paulette, had an intimate relationship which had gone awry. Douglas reportedly went to the deceased's home to speak with Paulette when a dispute developed between them. Francis then intervened and the accused man allegedly hit her over the head with a small wooden table.
Stephanie Elliott
Yallahs, ST. THOMAS
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has joined the throng of support groups to visit with and offer assistance to the family of the six persons murdered in St. Thomas last weekend.
A team of sympathisers from the JLP, led by Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, visited the home of the surviving family members in St. Thomas this week. The group included James Robertson, the member of Parliament for western St. Thomas; Dorothy Lightbourne, Opposition spokesperson on gender issues; and Morant Bay Mayor Joan Spencer.
In pledging assistance to the grieving family, Mr. Golding told them the JLP was prepared to help in any way needed.
Arthur Green
Clarks Town, TRELAWNY
The mother of one of the 22 prisoners who remained behind at the Clarks Town Police Station lock-up in Trelawny, where 15 inmates escaped earlier this week, is taking the police to task for the jailbreak.
"My son called me from a mobile about 5 a.m. on Sunday morning and told me that he just woke up and see all three cell doors open," the woman told The Gleaner Thursday. "He told me that one of the cells was completely empty and I told him not to leave, just stay where he is."
Four of the escapees have since been recaptured by police in Trelawny and St. James and are now facing additional charges of escaping custody. They were awaiting trial for offences including robbery and murder. The concerned mother said the remaining prisoners are now being penalised for their former cellmates' actions as visitation at the facility has been suspended.
Western Bureau
