Murder, arson accused seeks legal aid

Moments before being remanded to Dodds Prison, a 54-year-old man charged with murder and arson asked the court to provide him with an attorney through legal aid.

Ricardo Okella Stanford, of Bank Hall, St Michael, appeared in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick, accused of murdering 51-year-old Shanell Smith and destroying by fire a building belonging to Mohammed Hans, intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether it would be destroyed or damaged, both on March 27.

Stanford, who was unrepresented, was not required to plead to the indictable offences.
“Sir, I am asking the court if I can get a legal aid lawyer please,” he said.

Adjourning the case until May 5, Magistrate Frederick replied: “Of course. You can avail yourself of a legal aid lawyer. They will provide you with the forms and you can fill them out.”

“Thank you, sir,” Stanford said as he was led out of the dock.