A man, who missed his June 28 court date on a murder charge, was taken into custody on a warrant issued for his arrest when he appeared at court last Friday, September 30.
Rushane Smikle was the accused man who appeared before senior parish judge Andrea Thomas in the St Ann Parish Court.
However, through arguments from the man’s attorney that it was a simple mistake on his client’s part and the accused having not missed a date when reporting, the man was again offered bail.
Smikle is charged for the murder of 18-year-old Moneague College student Xavier James of Buckfield in Ocho Rios, St. Ann on May 24, 2014. James was fatally stabbed just meters away from his house in Buckfield, St. Ann.
Reports are that there was an altercation between James and Smikle in Ocho Rios. James was talking to a friend when he was allegedly pushed by Smikle. An argument developed and James was reportedly chased by Smikle towards Buckfield where he was caught and stabbed. James was a first year business student at Moneague College.
Prior to Smikle’s case being called up before the St Ann Parish Court last Friday, he was taken into custody as a warrant had been issued for him due to him missing his last court date on June 28.
When Smikle appeared before the court, his attorney, Christopher Hibbert explained that his client had “mixed up” the court date.
Hibbert added that Smikle had come to court on July 28 instead of June 28. He sat in court on July 28, but did not hear his name and later left.
Judge Thomas told Hibbert that if his client had been sitting there and had not heard his name, the proper thing for him to do was for him to check his name or query at the court’s office instead of leaving.
Hibbert said that while recognizing that Smikle was charged for a serious offense, he had made a mistake. He further added that the defense had even made queries of the new date at the court’s office.
Hibbert also pointed out to Judge Thomas that Smikle had been reporting consistently since June 28. His book of his reporting days was used as evidence to support this.
Judge Thomas later granted Smikle bail again in the sum of $500,000 with three sureties. The judge told Smikle that he had to find another person to bail him.
In the meantime, the case against Smikle seemed to have hit a hurdle. The crown prosecutor revealed that the investigating officer in the case had resigned and a new officer had to be assigned.
Smikle will again appear before the court on November 24 when his case will be mentioned.
