Accused killers of 'Good Samaritans' return to court January 11
December 17, 2007
THE three men charged with the kidnapping and murder of 'Good Samaritan' couple Jhanel Whyte and Tyawo McKenzie last month were further remanded when they appeared in the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court, as the anticipated applications for bail on their behalf failed to take place.
After the matter was called up in court, the presiding magistrate, Glen Brown, was told by the clerk of the court that the case file was still not yet complete, with the post mortem report on the dead couple, among other things, still outstanding.
"At this point all I'm trying to do is get the file ready. Until then, I won't be hearing any bail applications," Brown replied to the clerk.
This caused some annoyance among the defence attorneys for the three men - Andre Ennis, Shane Brown and George Cooper - who noted that their clients were being disadvantaged by the prosecution's delay in completing the file.
After enquiring how long the prosecution needed to have the file completed, Brown then scheduled January 11 for the next hearing in the matter.
Ennis is represented by attorney-at-law Oswald James, while Cooper is represented by Michael Lorne and Brown is represented by Tom Tavares-Finson. The three are said to be from the Havendale and Red Hills Road areas in St Andrew.
Allegations are that during the week of November 4, Whyte and McKenzie, who were travelling together, were in a motor vehicle accident with Ennis and Cooper, who were travelling along Border Avenue on a motorcycle. The men were taken by the couple to the University Hospital where they were treated and released.
The following day, it is alleged, arrangements were made for the couple to take medication and crutches to the injured men at an apartment in Havendale. However, the couple was never seen alive again after allegedly making the trip.
Their bodies were subsequently found on November 9 in the bushes of Mount Salus, Red Hills, with their throats slashed.
There are also allegations that the men had demanded a ransom for the couple's release but were not paid. McKenzie, it was further reported, had made a call to a family member the Thursday before their bodies were found, asking for a loan.
During a prior hearing in the matter earlier this month the court was told that money was withdrawn from Whyte's savings account during the days the couple went missing. It was also revealed that there are currently photos of men, who are believed to be the accused, making the withdrawals from Whyte's account at an ATM machine in Kingston.
Author: Vaughn Davis
Source: Jamaica Observer
