Best fails to appear, loses freedom

A man in his 20s lost his freedom today after he was escorted into the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court  by a court marshal.

A warrant had been issued for Devon Shaquire Nicholas Best, of 1st Avenue Bank Hall, St Michael after he failed to appear in court on several occassions putting the $5,000 bail previously posted by his grandmother on his behalf in jeopardy.

Best, who is facing several offences including drug and theft charges, told Magistrate Douglas Frederick, “[I was] hustling looking for money so it slip my mind. I didn’t get all the money that I was looking for.”

The magistrate told him that his priority was to turn up for his court-appointed dates.

“You missing the court date betrays the trust that I put in you . . . so I have to keep you,” the magistrate said.

Best’s surety, his grandmother, also addressed the court. She explained that she had not lived up to her obligations as a surety as she had been ill and at one point hospitalised.

“All the stress I taking on me,” said the grandmother just before the magistrate said that he would relieve her of that burden.

“Please your honour,” she pleaded in asking that her grandson not be remanded to Dodds.

She was informed however that the bail amount would have to be honoured.

“I will not take the money from you. You care about him but he clearly doesn’t care about you,” Frederick said before he gave Best an April 30 date to return to court.

Before that Best will appear in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court on April 5.