By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was brought to tears yesterday when arraigned in connection with the Freedom Park fatal drive-by shooting that claimed four lives and injured seven others.
However, before entering Magistrates Court no 9, Peter Rolle was jeered by victims’ relatives outside the Nassau and South Streets court complex. Not only did they question “why?” but they recommended hanging for “justice.”
Rolle, standing before Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt, disputed any involvement in the December 27, 2013 incident, claiming that he was standing on Dorsett Street at the time of the shooting.
The chief magistrate had asked Rolle if he had something to say having noticed him crying during his arraignment on four counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder.
The 29-year-old Bernard Road resident claimed that around the time of the alleged incident, he was standing on Dorsett Street with as many as 15 people who could vouch for his claim.
He also said that a nearby store, Big K’s Convenient Store, has CCTV that may also be able back up his alibi. The magistrate made a note of his claims.
Rolle is alleged to have murdered four persons on the evening in question: Claudezino Davis, Shaquille Demeritte, Eric Morrison and Sheique Sands.
He is further alleged to have tried to murder: Chino, Janet and John Davis, Benjamin Demeritte, Samuel Ferguson, Jermaine Pratt and Leroy Taylor.
Around 6pm on the day in question, occupants of a small, dark vehicle opened fire “with a variety of weapons” in the area just behind the basketball court where several persons were gathered awaiting Junkanoo results.
Claudezine Davis was pronounced dead on the scene while 10 others were taken to the hospital by private vehicles and an ambulance.
Shaquille Demeritte, Eric Morrison and Sheique Sands died of their injuries in hospital.
The 29-year-old accused, who is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, was not required to enter a plea to the charge.
He was further informed that his case would be tried in Supreme Court after being fast-tracked through a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VIB) on March 18.
Following this arraignment, another man was charged in connection with the Boxing Day murder of Antonio Curtis.
Kevin Brown, 24, of Baltic Avenue was charged with the December 26, 2013 fatal shooting incident that occurred in Fox Hill shortly after midnight.
Around that time, Curtis was sitting on an upturned bucket on the side of Dorsett Street when several persons in a silver coloured four-door Honda approached and fired numerous shots, hitting him in his face before speeding off.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brown, who was charged with the murder, also was not required to plea to the charge.
He too will have his case forwarded to the Supreme Court for trial by a VBI set for March 18.
Brown, like Rolle, was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison, Fox Hill because bail did not arise. The court, as of November 2011, no longer has the jurisdiction to consider bail on such capital offences as murder and attempted murder.
Comments
Thinker 10 years, 3 months ago
And here is the problem with capital punishment. With corruption in the force, and pressure from the country, how will we ever know the right measures have been taken to insure a just verdict? Is it ok if they are wrong and hang him anyway?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
If he has evidence to show he wasn't there he should not be in handcuffs. Police do your job, investigate, stop beating up innocent people
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
Hmmm, that's too bad. I find it weird that a hardened heart could be that scared at his arraignment. Maybe after a trial when he's sentenced is going to prison, and sees his life flash before his eyes...maybe...but this doesn't look right....
JohnDoes 10 years, 3 months ago
Well I hope you all heard the news from the horses mouth that as long as the Privy Council exists, it is highly unlikely that the 'Death Penalty' will be sought. So the question is, Who is really in charge? I know Barbados and the latter also adhere to the Privy Council but at the same time, they are still carrying out the Death Penalty. Hell with the European Union, they have their barriers on crime but what does that have to do with us? Is this government taking 'governance' seriously? This is a prime example of the Government's focus and infatuation with Kleptocracy. This is a Kleptocracy, not a democracy, that is just for 'show'. Our criminals are using old brazen tactics and beat our system every time. I know that the man they charged out of the 60 people held for the Fox Hill massacre (for example), is probably telling the truth. The suspect has given substantial evidence that is alleged to not have placed him on the scene, video surveillance and all yet he is remanded until March for a trial. This is not due process, this is corruption to promote false confession in order to produce a so called 'speedy process'. We the people are not free. I advise everyone to start saving, not for VAT, but to get the hell out of here. The government is not focused on the people, they are more concerned with hiding the atrocities of a failed plan, mainly because of their Pride and now the Privy Council has them by the noose. I rather the Queen of England address us than Mr Oblivious Christie because it seems as if, he dont even care, or too old to possess the mental capacity that the boy who cries 'wolf' will not be taken seriously until it is too late. This whole scenario and many more is why Bahamians dont respect the law, and do as they please. The government is too busy asking others for advice, but how can they if they cant even recognize and relate to the 'average' Bahamian, their way of life. This is crazy, excuse to pussyfoot to excuse and more pussyfoot. I have lost hope for this country.
positiveinput 10 years, 3 months ago
I see why Jesus had to come down and walk amidst us. Why is it that the judge must make a note of this individual claiming his whereabouts and that footage from a store could be obtain to verify it. Shouldn't the investigating officer checked this out before charging this man. Whereas time his case comes up do you really expect a CCTV to still have such footage if indeed it do exist. You can't judge a book by its cover, but that man don't look to have a variety of shirts much less guns. However innocent until proven guilty.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
It is really weird for a person who commits this type of crime to break down crying at his arraignment...it really is weird. Bernard Nottage Allyson Gibson Perry Christie start doing your jobs, make sure an innocent man does not get convicted
Guy 10 years, 3 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
arussell 10 years, 3 months ago
For what I was told from residents in Fox Hill there where more than one person in the car with guns, so how come only one person is being charge???........I really think they get the wrong person and if so this is sad
CommonSense 10 years, 3 months ago
The government and both local & international communities are putting so much pressure on the police force to solve these murders that these officers are just picking up anyone that they feel looks suspicious and forcing them to admit to various crimes. I wonder how many innocent persons are in Fox Hill as it is...
Come on RBPF stop crumbling under pressure and do your jobs right! This man has witnesses and possible footage of him being where he said he was. How was he even brought before the courts without all of this being checked out?! It takes NOTHING to get the footage from a camera and in most cases the footage only remains on the tape for about 30 days. How much do you want to bet that these jokers will either destroy the footage or wait until the time runs out on the tape and the footage no longer exists. Only an idiot would send the police to look at footage that he knows doesn't exist.
positiveinput 10 years, 3 months ago
Thats just it. Why does a judge have to make a note that a footage may exist. Why the police didn't rule out such option before charging this man.
TheMadHatter 10 years, 3 months ago
Agree. Why did the Judge just make a note. Couldn't he/she ask the police present at the hearing whether that particular store's footage was reviewed? And if not or if they didn't even have it in evidence couldn't she order them to get on the radio right there in the courtroom and call a police care that was at that moment patrolling in the area of the store to go immediately and get the tape and bring it to the court immediately while they WAIT for it - and tell the cops not to be less than 30 minutes or they will be held in contempt of Court.
Why can't people DO SOMETHING instead of just "making notes" or making speeches or making campaign promises?
TheMadHatter
concernedcitizen 10 years, 3 months ago
i don,t know if this fellow is guilty or not ,however i was not a good guy when i was younger iand spent time in Fox hill prison and US jails ,Everyone in jail is innocent or its some one else fault ,just ask them ..The majority of criminals are anti social and very adept at playing the system and naieve peoples emotions ,,
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
But it's different if you have tape to prove it....
concernedcitizen 10 years, 3 months ago
NOT SAYING HE DOESN,T ,BUT EVERYONE HAS A STORY HOW MANY CROOKS COP TO FOUR COUNTS OF MURDER ??,,WAS HE ON THE TAPE AT THE EXACT TIME ,,POLICE GIVE OTHER GUYS A WALK OR A FAVOR ON OTHER SH##T TO TALK
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
I admit I'm a bleed heart, I'll swallow most sob stories.(..well not Todd's there's something weird about it). I suppose this guy isn't a Boy Scout or the police would not have picked him up, it's just scary how little investigative work goes into these cases. He could be my brother...if my brother were guilty sure pay the consequences but I'd hate to think just because he looked the part a crime was pinned of him
JohnDoe 10 years, 3 months ago
A little surprised at some of the comments above. Remember that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty and that the burden is on the police and prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he actually performed the criminal act having the means, motive and intent. The police will not judge his guilt or innocence, it will be a jury of his fellow citizens. A credible alibi is probably the most competent evidence to rebut the prosecutions burden. Therefore, unless corruption can be established, let the process proceed. Quite frankly I am not surprised by a hardened criminal crying in court because it happens all the time. The minute you take their guns away from them they are nothing more than scared little boys.
positiveinput 10 years, 3 months ago
"Let the process proceed". So during the time the police ask him his whereabouts during the happening of the incident and he may have stated a totally different location that his presence even (may) be captured on a cctv, the following process is to charged this individual and let the courts follow up on his alibi. Gees that's like hearing there is no coffee in the office, yet still boiling the water and adding sugar.
JohnDoe 10 years, 3 months ago
The investigation of an alibi is an essential, basic, rudimentary and routine investigatory procedure before initiating charges against someone. Why do you and so many others on this thread just assume that this investigation was not performed by the police. By the way what is the theory of this crime according to the police and just how far is Dorsett Street from the scene of the crime. Even if footage exists could he have committed the crime and still be seen on footage minutes before or after? I do not think it is asking too much for every adult in a democracy to have a basic understanding of the judicial system that governs their lives. Glibly sitting back in your arm chair predicting innocence or guily or criminal antecedents based on someone crying in court or their appearance or the shirt they are wearing is more than naive and superficial. The process is that he is innocent until proven guilty. I don't know if he committed this crime and I suspect you don't know as well but the Police believes that he did. And assuming that he did, do you think he is likely to take public responsibilty for such a gruesome, inhumane and cowardly act?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 3 months ago
"Why do you and so many others on this thread just assume that this investigation was not performed by the police."
Why? Because we've had years of people showing up to court with bruised faces, bruised ribs, limping, recently people dying in "choke" holds and mysterious suicides while being held in jail. That's why. When those stop, then my first assumption will be the police did not beat a confession out of this suspect. When the process is fair from beginning to end.
JohnDoe 10 years, 3 months ago
I am a die-hard defender of human rights and equally abhor the gestapo tactics of coerced confessions, but that is corruption and as I stated above corruption should not be tolerated or condoned in any judicial process or system. But is that what we are talking about here? Has the accused complained about being beaten? I was not aware that there were complaints of a coerced confession in this case.
Mslav 10 years, 3 months ago
Take their guns then they use knives.
Mslav 10 years, 3 months ago
If what this man claims is true,and there is actual physical evidence it shows us that police officers sometimes do no investigation and just arrest , I guess people who are known to them or who may look guilty. It could be the reason that crime is so high because the wrong people have been arrested for lack of effort to investigate crimes, so the real criminals are left on the streets to continue crimes. Allison Maynard usually gets guilty people off, and leave Jerome Fitzgerald to take the heat.
John 10 years, 3 months ago
JUst remember I post under "JOHN" not Johndoes
John 10 years, 3 months ago
The chances are 1 in 20 that this animal will be convicted of murder. The chances are greater that he will be back on the streets in six months,,,go figure!
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