By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A JUDGE has reserved his decision concerning which of two murder trials he will adjourn to a later date.
Kelvin Deveaux, 20, and 24-year-old Dereck Neily appeared before Justice Bernard Turner yesterday to learn if their case into the August 2014 killing of Latore Mackey would be adjourned for a second time after their initial November 2015 date was delayed because of an ongoing case.
Justice Turner was to preside over the murder trial of Shirvon Stubbs who is alleged to be the culprit behind the August 11, 2010 shooting death of Jermaine Rolle Sr in Yellow Elder Gardens and accused of the December 13, 2014 attack on Rolle’s sons in which 18-year-old Jaquan Rolle was shot dead and 14-year-old Ashton Dorsett critically injured.
Stubbs, defended by Glendon Rolle, was set to stand trial on October 3, 2016. However, while the jury was empanelled on that day, the matter was adjourned to Wednesday, October 5, for the start.
However, the case never commenced due to the approach and passing of Hurricane Matthew.
Crown prosecutor Darell Taylor and David Cash had asked the judge for an adjournment of the Latore Mackey case in a hearing on Tuesday due to the storm’s impact on four of the witnesses in the case.
Kendra Kelly, who has carriage of the case concerning Stubbs, said the storm also affected her preparations for the case.
Justice Turner, in yesterday’s status hearing, said he would make a decision on Monday, October 17.
Mackey, 37, was deputy director of Bahamas Information Services, owner of the Blue Reef Sports Bar and Lounge on West Bay Street, and press secretary to Prime Minister Perry Christie.
He was shot in the neck around 4.30am off Market Street on August 25, 2014, according to initial reports.
Deveaux, of Market Street, and Neily, of Young Close, face a charge of murder under Section 291 (1B) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84. A charge under this section does not attract the court’s discretionary death penalty but carries a sentencing range from 30 to 60 years imprisonment if convicted by a Supreme Court jury.
Deveaux and Neily have retained attorneys Geoffrey Farquharson and Michael Kemp to defend them against the charge.
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