Murder accused lose freedom after breaching bail terms

Two St James men who have been accused of murder were on Tuesday remanded in custody, until next March, after they breached their bail conditions.

Investigators said that St Aubin Wynter and Antwana Strachan, who are before the St James Circuit Court, were arrested after they were seen outside of their premises during a time when they should have been indoors.

The men are before the St James Circuit Court for conspiracy to murder and murder. Their bail conditions stipulate that they are to reside in Kingston and abide by a curfew order, which required them to be inside their homes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

On Tuesday, Wynter, a 29-year-old disc jock of Campbell Lane, Mount Salem, said in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that they were going to collect food.

"Barrel come with bags of food for us so we did a try get them. We apologise for that," he told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque.

However, his explanation was contradicted by the investigator, who told the court that the men, when accosted, told the police that they were going to a party.

The judge then decided to remand the men in custody until March 5, 2024 and are to be brought to the St James Circuit Court on that occasion.

"What you have said to me, it is not sufficient to justify being out. This is serious. You are charged for murder, the most serious offence that I can think of. So because it is so serious and you are on conditions for bail, you must adhere very strictly. I am going to remand you further but I need you to understand and realise that you are remanded based on your own doing. The Bail Act speaks to scenarios like this," Cole-Montaque said.

The men are accused of shooting to death 27-year-old Ronald Smith, otherwise called 'Redz', of Willow Way, Catherine Mount in St James, on December 28, 2021.