Asylum shooting retrial July
May 09, 2006
THE RETRIAL of St. Andrew businessman, 34-year-old Steven Grant, has been set for July 3.
He is charged with the murder of 19-year-old Dunoon Technical High School student Kymani Bailey.
Lord Anthony Gifford, Q.C., who is representing Grant, made an application for bail when Grant appeared in court yesterday. He said Grant was on bail for four years before his trial in February 2003.
Paula Llewellyn, Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, in opposing bail, described Grant as a flight risk, and pointed out that the case against him was strong.
Justice Basil Reid refused bail and said that the trial date was not too far off.
Bailey was shot 13 times near a car park outside the Asylum Nightclub, New Kingston. It was Bailey's birthday and his brother had taken him to the club.
Eleven of the wounds were to his back.
Lord Gifford said that the evidence of the witness Michael Kinglock, who was not present at the first trial, was important to the defence.
Ms. Llewellyn said that the Crown was not calling Kinglock as a witness. She said in the interest of justice, she was issuing instructions to Detective Corporal Pillmar Powell to update her statement as to the reasonable steps she took to find Kinglock. She said if Kinglock was not found, then the defence would have the benefit of putting Kinglock's statement into evidence.
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
