Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The St James Parish Court has made a ruling that Saroyan Brown, the individual linked to the 2022 shooting death of cable technician Kemar Wilson in Catherine Hall, St James, will remain in police custody until May 24, following an unsuccessful bail application on his behalf on Friday.
Bail Application Denied
Brown, who is facing a charge of Wilson’s murder and appeared in court with a neck brace, was instructed by presiding parish judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton to be remanded after his lawyer Khadine Colman’s bail application was rejected.
Colman argued that Brown was not in St James at the time of Wilson’s death on August 5, 2022, as he had relocated to St Thomas due to threats on his life. She stated, “He does not wish to be in the parish of St James due to the threats to his life.”
However, the prosecution opposed bail for Brown, indicating that he had been identified as a person of interest on the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s ‘Wanted Wednesdays’ feature before his arrest.
Concerns Raised
The prosecution expressed concerns about Brown being a flight risk, as he had been tracked to St Thomas following Wilson’s death. Furthermore, when detained and transported back to St James, he consistently identified himself as Frank Allen, even in his caution statement.
Judge Fairclough-Hylton remarked, “I was not aware that persons could change their names outside of the legal means of a deed poll. This accused man took on a name and took himself out of the parish of St James, and even after he was apprehended, he continued to maintain this new name that he took on for himself.”
Attorney Colman requested medical treatment for Brown due to reported beatings while in police custody. She stated, “I know he has cause not to trust the police because he was beaten, and it was reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) before I came into the matter.”
It was revealed that the ballistic report was still outstanding from the prosecution’s case file, and disclosure of available documents had not been provided to Colman.
Remand Order
Fairclough-Hylton ordered that Brown be remanded until May 24, with document disclosure to Colman by May 15. She also mandated that Brown receive medical treatment before the May 24 return date.
On August 5, 2022, reports indicate that Kemar Wilson was at a shop in Catherine Hall with others when gunmen attacked, resulting in Wilson’s death and another patron being injured before the assailants fled the scene. Wilson was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the other patron was hospitalized.
For more information, contact christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com
.