News

18-year-old on murder rap granted bail

By MICHAEL MCLEAN, Star Writer

STEPHEEN SINCLAIR, AN 18-year-old woman recently charged with the murder of her common-law husband Bryan Ebanks, was granted $600,000 bail with one or two sureties in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court last week.

RM Stanley Clarke, who at first granted bail in the sum of $800,000, later reduced the amount after Cecil July, the attorney for the accused, pleaded for a lesser bail offer.

The accused is to report to the Junction Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and to surrender all travel documents. She is to return to court on September 1, 2005.

Court files allege that on July 4, 2005, at about 3:00 p.m., the couple, from Ballard Valley district, had an argument which developed into a fight. The deceased was held around his neck until he became unconscious. He later died in hospital.

In applying for bail, July told the court his client, who was in an advanced state of pregnancy had been a victim of abuse and had packed her bags to go back home when the incident happened.