The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed a Supreme Court judge’s decision to deny bail to a man fighting extradition to the United States on drug charges.

Melvin Maycock Sr appeared in the appellate court contesting the decision of Justice Vera Watkins to deny him a bond in August ahead of his pending extradition appeal.

The court, however, was not of the view that Justice Watkins did not properly exercise her discretion in denying bail when considering the circumstances of his case and the likelihood that he would reoffend if granted bail.

In August, Justice Watkins said she had seen no reason given by the applicant to differ from the decision of Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs who had denied him bail in March.

Justice Watkins, in considering all of the circumstances, determined that Maycock Sr “is not a suitable candidate for bail in that he has been convicted of several offences since being released on bail in 2009”.

“I concur with the views expressed by Senior Justice Isaacs and find that there is a likelihood that the applicant will commit offences should he be released on bail,” the judge said earlier this year. “The applicant is also not a suitable candidate for bail in that he has been convicted of escape from lawful custody since he was first granted bail on the application made by the government of the United States of America.”

“This is an indication that there is a likelihood that the applicant may abscond and not return for the completion of the matter before the Court of Appeal should he be released on bail,” the judge added.

Last September, then-Senior Justice Jon Isaacs upheld the approved extradition request for Maycock Sr, along with co-accused Trevor Roberts, Gordon Newbold, Sheldon Moore, Devroy Moss, Shanto Curry, Lynden Deal, Brenden Deal, Torry Lockhart, Wilfred Ferguson, Derek Rigby and Carl Culmer. He quashed an extradition order for Maycock’s son, Melvin Maycock Jr, and Larran Lockhart.

Their appeals are still pending.