Spanish Town

Despite strong opposition, two brothers charged with the murder of popular media personality Christine Hewitt were granted $2-million bail each in the Spanish Town Resident Magis-trate's Court yesterday.

Hewitt's husband, David Lloyd Gordon, 29, and Wordsworth Gordon, 27, both haulage contractors, appeared before RM Simone Maddix.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Paul Thomas told the court that further evidence needed to be gathered and the men were seen as a flight risk. The RM, however, yielded to the application of defence attorney Michael Deans, who said his clients were not a flight risk as the police had had their passports for the last three years and they have fixed addresses and will appear whenever the court needs them.

The men are to report to police three times weekly. They return to court on May 25.

The brothers were charged after Hewitt's remains were found in a burnt-out Toyota Townace along the Freedom main road in Riversdale, St Catherine, on June 29, 2006.

The court heard that Hewitt's husband's DNA was found at the death scene. He had earlier given police a statement that he was nowhere near the accident scene but data gathered from a cell site tracking device, showed that both Gordons were at the location when the incident took place.

Thomas said the Crown will be relying on scientific and circumstantial evidence but nonetheless has a strong case.