The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were remanded to prison yesterday after being arraigned in connection with the fatal shooting of the son of National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas Leader John Pinder.

However, when Jamean Johnson, 24, and Dylan Brown, 20, stood before Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing murder and attempted murder charges concerning the August 29 incident, their lawyer Tecoyo Bridgewater claimed that his clients were prematurely arrested and charged. He also alleged that they had alibis.

Johnson and Brown, residents of Monastery Park and Bernard Road respectively, are alleged to have intentionally caused the death of 27-year-old John Pinder Jr and attempted to kill Kerrigan McCoy.

According to initial reports from police, on the night in question, Pinder Jr was in his Hillside Park home off Bernard Road playing video games with several male friends when unknown persons shot through a window of the home.

Pinder Jr was shot several times and pronounced dead at the scene. Mr McCoy was also shot and rushed to hospital by ambulance and treated for his injuries.

Chief Magistrate Forbes told the accused pair that they would not be allowed to enter a plea to the allegations until they are formally arraigned before a judge in the Supreme Court.

They were then told that upon their return to Magistrate’s Court on October 17, the case would be fast-tracked to the higher court.

They were further informed that they would have to apply to the Supreme Court for bail because the nature of the offences they face do not allow the lower court the discretion to consider or grant bail.

Before their remand to the Department of Correctional Services, Mr Bridgewater expressed his reservations about the arraignment and police investigation.

“In regards to my clients while in custody, both indicated they were assaulted, beaten and threatened,” the lawyer alleged.

“My client provided an alibi, Dylan Brown, of being at a certain place and time. There was no indication that it was followed up. Likewise, Mr Johnson also provided an alibi that he was at a certain place and time and it was likely not followed up on by police. I do believe that the investigation is premature and only to appease certain media outlets have they been brought down and charged.”

Mr Bridgewater expressed his belief that even the family of the murder victim do not believe his clients are the culprits.

“It would be unjust to the victim and his family to bring these individuals prematurely and have the person involved or committed the offence, still out there,” he stressed.

However, the chief magistrate said the lawyer’s position on the matter might also be premature.

“As you are aware, investigations are usually ongoing even up to the start of trial where new developments may occur,” the judge noted.

“I will not presume to tell the police how to do their job and they will not presume to tell me how to do mine.”

Mr Bridgewater acknowledged the court’s position, but stressed that his clients’ liberty was at stake for offences they are adamant they did not commit.

“These individuals will be remanded to prison and given the current situation of murder and bail they may be up there for years,” the lawyer said.

The chief magistrate said it was not a guarantee that the accused men would be on remand for a long period given that all bail applications are approved or rejected on their own merits.