By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport
Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A MOTHER and daughter were arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the death of Keith “Fat Head” Russell. Emajane Fitzgerald, 34, and her mother Claudette Smith, 55, of No 142 Limewood Lane, Freeport were escorted under heavy police guard around 10am to the courthouse to face the charges.
A small crowd gathered at the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre to get a glimpse of the pair. Both women were shackled and handcuffed but smiled as they were led to the courthouse.
Fitzgerald appeared to have sustained some injury and had a number of stitches to her forehead.
A large number of officers – some armed with high-powered firearms – were positioned around the building.
As they were being led into the court, an angry relative of Russell shouted: “Where is his body?”
Russell, a resident of Coral Reef Estates Subdivision, has been missing since early last week prompting his family to file a missing person’s report with police.
Fitzgerald and Smith appeared before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Court One. It is alleged that between August 9 and 10, Fitzgerald and Smith being concerned together, and with others unnamed and unknown, conspired to kill Russell.
It is also alleged that on the same date that both accused, being concerned together and with others unnamed and unknown, by means of unlawful harm intentionally caused Russell’s death.
Magistrate Ferguson asked the accused pair if they understood the charges and they both replied: “Yes ma’am.”
Kwasi Thompson represented the mother and daughter, who were not required to enter a plea to the charges.
A preliminary inquiry will be held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence against them for them to stand trial in the Supreme Court.
Police Prosecutor Superintendent Wendell Clarke noted that the matter falls under Part Four of the Bail Act, and the court does not have discretion to grant bail to the accused.
Magistrate Ferguson remanded the pair to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and adjourned the matter to December 7 for a preliminary inquiry.
Mr Thompson informed the court that he would be applying to the Supreme Court for bail.
Additionally, bench warrants had been issued for Fitzgerald in reference to a number of traffic matters dating back to 2006.
Those matters were also dealt with in the hot, packed courtroom.
Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to five of six charges, including driving a vehicle without a license disk attached in October 2006; driving with dark tinted windows in September 2008; driving without due care and attention and driving without valid driver’s license in October 2010; driving without due care and attention in January 2011 – all totalling some $830 in fines.
Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty to failing to produce a driver’s license in 48 hours to the police in reference to the traffic matter in October 2010. The matter was adjourned to December 7.
Magistrate Ferguson ordered that Fitzgerald pay $830 in full. Mr Thompson said that his client is in custody, but Magistrate Ferguson said she would give Fitzgerald’s relatives until 2pm on Friday, August 21, to pay the fines. Failure to pay the fines would result in a sentence of three consecutive months on each of the five guilty counts.
Magistrate Ferguson also implored Mr Thompson, who is also a Free National Movement senator, to speak to his colleagues in government about some relief to the unbearable conditions.
The a/c system in the Magistrate’s Court is out of order and has been an ongoing issue for some time.
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