A 16-year-old American choirboy who disrupted an international flight at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Wednesday was granted $10 000 bail when he appeared in court charged in connection with the incident.
Shiloh Cecil Bellot will reappear in court next week on the charge of behaving in a manner which interfered with the discharging of the functions and duties of a crew member by uttering the words, “bomb the plane” while onboard JetBlue flight B662.
On his first appearance before Magistrate Douglas Frederick at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court, the teenager pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Sergeant Victoria Taitt told the court there were no objections to bail as the young man has ties to Barbados.
The prosecutor, however, asked for conditions to be imposed on the accused. She asked that Bellot be ordered to surrender his passport and travel documents to the court, report to a police station at least twice a week, adhere to a daily 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, reside with his surety, and “refrain from posting anything on social media in respect of this matter”.
Shiloh Cecil Bellot
Bello’s attorneys – Michael Lashley KC, Simon Clarke, Ken Mason and Zudie Payne – did not object to conditions being imposed.
However, Lashley told Magistrate Frederick that given the prosecution was asking for a curfew, the requirement to report to the police twice a week seemed “a little stringent”. He submitted that one day coupled with the curfew was sufficient as Bellot was not known to any court and his passport was already with the police.
Lashley added that the teen had travelled with a church group to Barbados and was a choirboy who performed here.
The magistrate, after hearing the submissions, queried whether there were any mental health issues. Bellot’s parents, who were present in court, replied, “No.”
“This is a serious allegation. It may be in your best interest if you have the means to get an assessment. This type of allegation jumps out at you for a mental assessment,” Magistrate Frederick said as he accepted the surety presented for the teen.
He also told Bellot that he would have to report to the District ‘B’ Police Station every Monday and Wednesday by 5 p.m.
The matter was then adjourned until July 14. Lashley asked for a pre-sentencing report on his client to be expedited. ]]>
