Accused pleas for bail denied

Despite pleas that he was “a good person” who had never been charged before, Rokarl Elwin Lewis’ application for bail was denied.

The 21-year-old from Harper’s Land, Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church is now on remand at Dodds for the next 28 days.

Lewis appeared before Magistrate Manila Renee today charged that on August 25 he wounded Demarkko Coombs and Zakwon Jones with intent to maim, disfigure or disable them or to do some serious bodily harm to them.

It is further alleged that he recklessly engaged in conduct on the same day which placed Demario Brathwaite and Renico Phillips in danger of death or serious bodily harm.

The accused was not required to plead to any of the four charges before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.

When it came time for bail, Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons based his objections on the seriousness of the charges, the fact that there were eyewitnesses and that a firearm was reportedly used. The prosecutor further submitted that lawmen were still trying to recover the weapon and find a second suspect. There were also fears that Lewis would interfere with investigations if granted bail at this time. He noted too that  “Jones was still a ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in B7.”

Before he even began his application Lewis asked Magistrate Renee, “I able to go home?”

He continued: “I never get charged for anything; I never interfere with anybody; I am a good person. I am a helpful person, that is how I get in this. I just help somebody. I would love to go home and help my grandmother. The same person in the hospital is my family.”

The magistrate denied his bail application on the grounds that the charges were “very serious allegations” before the court.

Lewis will make his next court appearance on September 30.