ORLANDO, Florida (AP)
United States magistrate Karla Spaulding yesterday found probable cause to detain the former United States Army soldier and Iraq contractor accused of trying to take bomb components on to an aeroplane to Jamaica, pending a Grand Jury indictment.
Jamaican Kevin Brown's attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Clarence Counts, however, argued that there was not probable cause because the bomb components allegedly found in Brown's bags were not assembled, and he could not reach them after having checked in his luggage.
No danger
"He didn't have any way of even detonating any explosive device, so there really was no danger to anyone on the aeroplane by my client," Counts said.
According to H. Charles Johnson, a lawyer representing Brown's family in his mother's 2005 slaying, Brown had a history of mental illness and was distraught over the murder.
The woman - Sandra McLeod - was operating a hotel at the time of her murder.
Yesterday, Johnson told The Gleaner that the case against the three men charged with McLeod's murder remained in limbo.
Brown had been in and out of hospitals before his arrest on Tuesday at the Orlando International Airport, said Johnson.
"He was a bit unstable," Johnson said. "I think the mother's death would have been on his mind."
Brown was charged with one count of attempting to carry an explosive or incendiary device on to an aircraft.
Kelly Boaz, an FBI task force bomb technician, who inspected the bags, testified that the items could have been ignited if they had met a heat source.
Senior Gleaner Writer Janet Silvera contributed to the story.
Served in the US Army from 1999-2003. Worked in Iraq as an equipment parts receiver from July to December 2007, Had been receiving care at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville. Jail records list his address as a Gainesville apartment for University of Florida students, where he had been apparently staying with his brother.
