The six men accused of murdering Dwight Holder on August 6 have been remanded to HMP Dodds until September 11.
The six are Rasheed Jabar Gittens, 20 and Akeem Adrian Gittens, 19, both of Belleview Gap, Station Hill, Ayo Prince Bascombe, 24, of Headleys Land, Bank Hall, Adrian Antonio Watts, 41, of Windsor road, Bank Hall, Brandon Damon Joseph, 22, of Beckwith Street, the City and Kemal Mario Straker, 20, of 15 Clapham Park, all of St. Michael.
Holder, 29, a teacher at Half Moon Fort Primary School, died after receiving a gunshot wound to the chest at Leinster Road, Bush Hall, St. Michael.
The six murder accused were remanded to HMP Dodds
As the accused stood before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court No. 1 dock this morning, moments away from being remanded, the judicial officer reminded them that “you all have been here several times before…I spoke to you all already. I told you this day would come and you are all now here. Gentlemen, see you and good luck!”
A number of other charges were also read to the accused, who were not required to plead to any.
Joseph and Straker are charged with robbing Sybil Bayne Collymore of a handbag and other items, and Gregory Harris of a $1,400 bracelet.
Straker and Bascombe are jointly accused of having an unlicensed gun and 29 rounds of ammunition on August 10; along with the August 6 offences of using an unlicensed firearm, intent to maim, disfigure or disable Kemar Burnett and John Weekes, or cause them serious bodily harm.
Bascombe is also accused of possession of an unlicensed gun and five rounds of ammunition on August 11.
Meanwhile, accused Straker singly faces four additional charges from an incident on August 3. He is accused of causing serious bodily harm to Omar Boxill with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him, and using a firearm and recklessly discharging it along Black Rock Main Road in a way which placed Boxill in danger of death or serious bodily harm.
He is also charged with using unlawful violence, together with other persons, against Boxill, his conduct causing others present to fear for Boxill’s safety.
Joseph is also facing six additional charges, including stealing items valued at $1,040 on July 19 this year, robbing Valdene Payne of a chain, wallet and other items on May 18, robbing Jason Thomas of a car on June 5, and Merle Daniel of jewellery and a key on May 18.
Additionally, he is charged with stealing $6,394 and another $1,700 belonging to Play Fair Limited, as well as $6,208.31 belonging to SNS Limited, all on April 26, 2012.
Joseph is being represented by attorney-at-law Roy Hurley, while his five co-accused are unrepresented.
Entry into the courtyard today was restricted to relatives of the accused and those doing business at the court.
The scene outside the court this morning
Persons wishing to enter had to state their business both at the entrance via Central Police Station and the gate on Coleridge Street.
By the time the accused men left, scores of persons, mostly women, were within the courtyard shouting exchanges with the prisoners.