By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail in the Supreme Court yesterday in connection with the tragic sinking of a suspected migrant vessel that left 18 people dead in late July.
McKenzie Jerome, aka “Jerome McKenzie”, 53, appeared before Justice Guilimina Archer-Minns on an online conference call for bail determination for a charge of 18 counts of manslaughter. The accused faced two additional charges on this matter for allegedly failing to register or licence the craft in this incident.
It is alleged that on July 24, Jerome being concerned with three other men — Donald Watson, 39, Eulan McKinney, 49, and Wilbens Joseph, 37 — caused the deaths of 17 Haitian migrants (16 women and one man) as well as an unborn foetus.
Official reports indicate that around 1am on July 24, a twin engine speed boat capsized in rough seas while en route to Miami. Officers from the RBPF and RBDF managed to rescue more than 25 of the approximately 60 persons on board the vessel seven miles off New Providence.
In court, upon reviewing attorney Alex Dorsett’s bail submission for Jerome, the justice determined it will be granted. However she noted that due to the gravity of the offence, conditions will be imposed.
Jerome’s bail was set at $30,000 with one or two sureties. His passport is to be surrendered to authorities and he is prohibited from leaving New Providence as he awaits trial.
In addition to being fitted with an electronic monitoring device, the accused is expected to sign in at Quakoo Street Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday by 7pm. Jerome was also warned not to interfere with any witnesses.
Jerome, with his co-accused, are still awaiting service of their voluntary bills of indictment for the charge.
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