A 16-year-old boy was remanded to the Grand Bacolet Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre, when he made his first court appearance before Magistrate Tahira Gellineau at the St. George’s No.1 Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The teenager has been implicated in the country’s seventh homicide, which was recorded in Concord, St. John community last week Friday.
He allegedly used a cutlass to inflict several chop wounds to the body of his 58-year-old cousin Lenny Ross.
Ross, a farmer by profession was found dead at his home last week Friday morning hours after another man was chopped to death in the Vendomme community.
According to informed sources, the teenager allegedly committed the gruesome act after receiving threats against his life from the now deceased cousin, who has had mental challenges, and several run-ins with the law, the latest being a chopping incident a few months ago in which another family member was injured.
Information reaching THE NEW TODAY is that the 16-year-old murder-accused, has an elder brother, who is serving a sentence at the Richmond Hill Prison for Murder, a crime he also committed as a juvenile.
Multiple sources have also confirmed that Ross’ killer is the grand child of Kelvin ‘Pussy’ Antoine, who was convicted, and jailed for the shooting death of St. John’s resident, Cosley Beharry on Christmas Day 2007.
Antoine was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Manslaughter.
Justice Lyle St. Paul had sentenced him to eight years in prison in 2009, however, Antoine appealed his sentence to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, and his appeal was upheld, leading to his freedom in November of 2009.
Members of the media were not allowed in court for the matter involving the juvenile murder suspect.
However, according to seasoned Criminal Attorney Arley Gill, who appeared amicus on the teenager’s behalf, the murder case has been adjourned to June 1, and deferred to the Gouyave Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Kinna Marrast, in the Western District where the gruesome killing occurred.
Attorney Gill has in recent times surfaced as a force to be reckoned with in the fight to protect the identity of juveniles, who run afoul of the law.
He warned that persons including members of the media can be held in contempt of court for capturing pictures, and videos of juveniles for circulation in the public domain.