Priest, Beckles murder cases head to Home Circuit Court
March 21, 2007
Director of Public Prosecutions, Kent Pantry, Q.C., on Monday sent the murder cases of 21-year-old university student Rodney Beckles and the man accused of the murder of Anglican priest, Father Richard Johnson, to the Home Circuit Court for trial.
The DPP decided not to have preliminary enquries in the cases.
Beckles, social sciences student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, and son of UWI Professor Hilary Beckles, is charged with the murder of 28-year-old Khalil Campbell, son of Supreme Court Judge Lennox Campbell.
It is being alleged that Campbell was stabbed several times during a dispute over a chillum pipe on January 4.
Miss Justice Gloria Smith remanded Beckles until March 29 when his case will be mentioned.
Prince Vale, also called 'Bam Bam', who is accused of murdering Father Johnson, is to return to court on Friday when a bail application will be made.
Hearing this friday
Attorney-at-law Arthur Kitchin, who is representing Vale, told the court yesterday that Vale was on bail and was only taken into custody because his case was sent to the Home Circuit Court.
The judge said she did not have the court documents and would hear the application on Friday.
Father Johnson was stabbed at his residence at Rectory Road, near the St. Judes Anglican Church, Stony Hill, on November 12, 2006.
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
