The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGER was remanded to prison without bail yesterday after being charged in connection with the murder of a 76-year-old woman during Hurricane Sandy.

Wearing a sling to support his right arm, 18-year-old Oscar Miller Jr of Finlayson Street appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez facing a murder charge.

It is claimed that on Thursday, October 25, he caused the death of Viola Mae Smith-Sands, of Eneas Street.

On the night in question, around 8.50pm, she was shot and killed in her bedroom.

The accused was not required to enter a plea to the charge against him.

He was also charged with possession of an unlicensed Lorcin 9mm pistol and eight live rounds of ammunition.

Miller was told he would be served with a Voluntary Bill of Indictment on February 26, 2013.

Chief Magistrate Gomez said the bill would forward the matter directly to Supreme Court, bypassing a lengthy pre-trial process in the Magistrates Court.

The accused was told he was not eligible for bail in the Magistrates Court but had the right to apply in the higher court.

Before he was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison, attorney Tamara Taylor addressed the court on behalf of her client.

“My client, as you can see, has a sling on his arm.

“When I went to see him yesterday (Wednesday), he was not in this condition” Ms Taylor said.

The attorney said her client made complaints that he was beaten by four police officers while in custody at the Central Detective Uni.

She said they placed a bag over his head and placed him in a body bag while beating his body and genitals.

The lawyer said her client’s detention record could reflect that Miller has was not well when he was seen by an officer later.

She said when she went to CDU that afternoon, she saw her client being taking from the station to the hospital.

The chief magistrate made a note of the attorney’s objections and submissions before remanding the accused to prison.