Bail denied to serious bodily harm accused as prosecutor says more serious charge possible

Law enforcement officials are waiting on an autopsy report to determine whether a serious bodily harm charge against accused Taurean Jamal Pile should be upgraded.

It was mainly for that reason that Police Constable Ralph Rollock objected to bail being granted to the 35-year-old security officer from Skeete’s Road, Jackmans, St Michael.

Pile appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Kim Butcher, accused of causing serious bodily harm to Orlando Maughan on August 23 with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him. He could not plead to the indictable charge.

“This particular complainant has passed away and we are waiting for the results of an autopsy in order to make certain decisions in relation to this matter. The prosecution is objecting to bail on that particular premise,” Constable Rollock told the magistrate.

“This is a very serious charge and we will want to have the accused man in a position where he can be readily available to answer to this charge.”

Pile’s attorney Susanna Thompson, in her application for bail, said her client had been “quite cooperative relative to the totality of the circumstances in this matter, given the fact that it did not stem from any unprovoked attack by Mr Pile himself but rather by the deceased, which will be borne out in the evidence”.

“I do understand and I do agree that there are some circumstances which are not in the possession of the prosecution and the investigators that will bring to bear what is the final status of the charge in this matter,” she said.

The defence attorney added that the accused was not known to the court, has a viable job, and has small children to take care of.

“He would like . . . to be afforded the opportunity to do so while he clears his name of this charge and other charges. He is not a violent person. This circumstance was totally . . . beyond his control . . . . He is willing to abide by any condition the court grants while the prosecutor and the police bring to bear any further evidence . . . [from] any autopsy or post mortem . . . conducted on the deceased,” the attorney added.

Pile is also facing two additional charges. They are: assaulting Jamila Maughan, causing her actual bodily harm, as well as stealing a cellular phone and case worth $325 belonging to the same complainant, on August 16.

He pleaded not guilty and the prosecutor did not object to bail on those two matters.

However, Magistrate Butcher did not grant Pile bail on the serious bodily harm charge and remanded him to Dodds until September 29.