A chef, who is alleged to have slashed the throat of his ex-lover in Retreat, Brown’s Town, St Ann over two years ago, has been denied bail.
Liesha Matthews, a chef of Seaforth, St. Thomas is the man charged in connection with the murder of his ex-lover, 21-year-old Shana Gay Williamson, a shop keeper of Philadelphia and Retreat, St Ann.
He appeared before Justice Dale Palmer in the St Ann Circuit Court on Tuesday, October 31.
Allegations are that shortly after 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2015, Shana Gay Williamson was at a bar she operated in Retreat, near Brown’s Town, when Matthews came there and started to accuse her of several things.
Reports are that Matthews threatened to set Williamson ablaze and that he threw gasoline on her. He, however, made a failed attempt to strike a match.
Ms. Williamson ran from the bar to a neighbour’s yard and was chased and eventually caught by Matthews. It was reported at that time that Matthews threw her down several steps and then used a knife to cut her throat.
THROWN OVER BALCONY
At a bail application for Matthews in January, 2016 (which was later denied in the St Ann Parish Court), it was revealed by the crown prosecutor that Matthews threw Williamson over a balcony and then proceeded to cut her throat.
Relatives had said that the couple resided together in Philadelphia in Brown’s Town, but Williamson ended the relationship, citing repeated physical abuse. They had a child together.
Matthews was on the run for six days. He was arrested on Saturday, August 8, 2015 in Olympic Garden Kingston.
Matthews was charged by the police and made his first court appearance in the St. Ann’s Bay Resident Magistrate Court (now Parish Court) on Thursday, August 13, 2015.
NO RISK OF FLIGHT
At a bail application before Justice Palmer, attorney Linton Gordon told the judge that Matthews had been in custody for two years. He said that the accused was not a threat or was of flight risk. The attorney indicated that Matthews had only run away from the area when the incident occurred as he felt threatened. He said the police were able to find Matthews.
Justice Palmer then denied bail for Matthews as he was deemed to be of flight risk.
A trial date of May 9, 2018 was subsequently set in the case. Matthews was remanded into custody until that time.
