No bail was considered for a man who appeared before the St. Ann’s Bay Resident Magistrate Court in relation to charges of possession of housebreaking implements.
Bail was denied by senior resident magistrate Andrea Thomas when the matter was brought before the courts on Thursday, September 10.
Twenty-year-old Jamel Johnson is the man charged.
The allegations are that on September 4 of this year at about 1: 30 a.m., the accused man was passing Park Avenue in Ocho Rios, an area where a set of houses had been broken into. The accused was seen with a bag in his possession. When the bag was searched, it contained a hack saw and a hammer. The accused explained that these items were used for working on his mother’s house. However, when investigated, this was not found to be factual. The man was arrested and charged.
The accused man said he had stopped at a bar and was drunk
When the matter came before senior resident magistrate Andrea Thomas last Thursday, the accused man denied the allegations presented in court and explained that he was not responsible for any of the house breakings in the area.
“Sir, they are not saying that you broke into any house. What they are saying is that you had the items in your possession,” explained RM Thomas to the accused.
“Your Honor, mi did get a work in Runaway Bay and a work me a cum from. Me did well dutty up wit cement and di police dem see that,” explained the accused man, Johnson.
“Yes Sir, but what were you doing in that area so late with those implements?” Enquired RM Thomas.
“Your Honor, I stopped at a bar di night enuh nearby and a walk me did a walk go home… Mi did kinda drunk. Mi nah tell no lie, because all me clothes did full a cement. Please mi asking you for bail,” explained the accused to the judge.
NOT FIRST TIME
“Have you ever had any previous convictions?” Enquired RM Thomas.It was this juncture that the clerk of court revealed to the court that Johnson had been in prison two months prior on housebreaking and larceny charges.
“Have you had any more charges other than this, Sir?” Asked RM Thomas.
“Yes, Your Honor,” replied the accused.It was further revealed that in addition to serving a two-month prison sentence for housebreaking and robbery, Johnson received a suspended sentence on a separate charge of housebreaking. This was his third occasion before the courts on charges of a similar nature.
PREVIOUS CONVICTION
RM Thomas explained to the accused that he could not be granted bail based in law, given that the Bail Act said that offenders with previous charges and convictions in close successions cannot be granted bail“Your Honor, but me neva break into any house,” repeated the accused man.“Sir, that is not what you are charged for. You are charged in relation to having implements to commit the act of housebreaking. You cannot be granted bail, but we will try to see if an early court date can be set so that you can explain yourself,” RM Thomas explained.A trial date of October 8 was set.The accused man, Johnson, was remanded into custody.
