Accused in Port authority case get to spend Christmas at home

A well digger and a general worker, separately accused of wantonly entering the premises of the Barbados Port Inc, are back home just in time for the holidays after spending several weeks on remand at Dodds prison.

David Oneal Willoughby, 47, of Fairy Valley, Christ Church and Rashad Akeem Mathurin, 26, of Bibby’s Gap Hall’s Road, St Michael were released on bail today following applications by their attorney Shadia Simpson.

Mathurin, the general worker and Willoughby are also separately charged with having in their possession a ratchet, a wire cutter, ten sockets and an extension bar for use in connection with theft when they were was not at their place of abode on August 24.

They are further separately charged with possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply and trafficking in the illegal substance as well as knowingly handled the drug which was intended by them or some other person to supply.

The two have maintained their innocence of the charges.

When they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes this afternoon in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court the prosecution maintained its objections to bail for the men.

However, Simpson urged the court to exercise its discretion in her clients’ favour.

With relation to Mathurin, the defence lawyer explained that when he was remanded in November his hand was broken in one place. “Now it is broken it two places, following an attack at the prison,” she said.

Simpson told the court that her client was also hurt in his left eye and now would have to undergo operations not only on his hand, but on the eye area as well. She explained that he was at a “major disadvantage” at the prison.

The lawyer urged the court to grant Mathurin bail as he had no prior convictions, had a suitable surety and was willing to adhere to any conditions imposed.

Regarding Willoughby, Simpson said he was a small businessman and had been on remand for the past four months.

“And still the matter has not advanced. He has a young daughter and her greatest wish for Christmas is for him to be at home,” she added.

Simpson further submitted that the amount of time her client had spent on remand with respect to one of the charges could be seen as equivalent to a sentence given the penalty attached under the law.

Chief Magistrate Weekes granted both accused bail in the sum of $8 000 each with one surety. Bail came with conditions however. Willoughby must report to the Oistins Police Station on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – before 1 p.m. while Mathurin has to report to Central Police Station every Wednesday by 1 p.m.

Both men are also on a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

They are scheduled to reappear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on July 6, 2022.

Before that date Mathurin has to appear before Chief Magistrate Weekes on January 28, 2022 in connection with another matter.