Murder accused pleads not guilty to eight charges

A 23-year-old man pleaded not guilty to eight serious criminal charges, including murder, when he appeared before Justice Pamela Beckles in the No. 5 Supreme Court on Thursday.

Jakobe Jaheem Yarde, of Nurse Land, Bank Hall, St Michael, is accused of the April 16, 2022, murder of 25-year-old Jerome Stuart of 8th Avenue, New Orleans, St Michael. His trial has been scheduled to begin on October 28.

In addition to the murder charge, Yarde faces charges of: use of a firearm without a valid licence; unlawfully wounding Steve Hackett with intent to do him serious bodily harm or to maim, disfigure or disable him; and unlawfully and maliciously wounding Hackett.

He also has to answer charges of unlawfully wounding Rasheed Bishop; maliciously wounding Bishop; maliciously shooting at Michael Preville, putting him in danger of death or serious injury; and maliciously shooting at Cejay Ifill, placing him in danger of death or serious injury.

Yarde is represented by Senior Counsel Michael Lashley, while Principal State Counsel Krystal Delaney is prosecuting the case.