‘Shrek’ and ‘Jahson’ to answer charges of murder of baby for second time

Two men are set to go before a court for the second time to answer charges of the murder of a 10-month-old baby and the attempted murder of the baby’s parents.

Recardo ‘Shrek’ McFee and Martin ‘Jahson’ James were charged for the first time six months ago for the murder of 10-month-old Mozari Lee and the attempted murder of Mozart Lee and Shelly-Ann Durham, the baby’s parents.

The death of the infant occurred October 7 last year, at Glen, wherein the gunmen involved in the attack were alleged to have been targeting one Monty Hillocks.

While Hillocks, who was at the Glen residence having his car fixed, escaped unscathed, the incident saw the death of Mozari Lee and the infliction of bullet wounds to Mozart Lee and Durham.

McFee and James were taken into custody five days after the incident and a Preliminary Inquiry into the matter started on April 19 this year.

Due to the lack of evidence placing the two defendants on the scene and even the seeming existence of evidence placing them at another scene at the time, coupled with the continued absence of key witness Hillocks, the matter was discharged by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias on April 25.

As at October 31, 2017, the two were served with a warrant of arrest and an indictment stating that they were to appear before the High Court on the charges. McFee and James were taken before the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, because the prosecution in the case wished to have them remanded in custody before they appeared before the High Court.

Defense Lawyer for James, Grant Connell, at first objected to the case being brought before the Magistrate’s Court, saying the matter was a High Court matter and if it were to be brought before a Magistrate’s Court, it would have to be in the form of a Preliminary Inquiry. He stated that what had been done seemed like an attempt to cross the hurdle of having a Preliminary Inquiry and that the prosecution could not ‘have their cake and eat it too.”

The prosecutor then stated that they had gone to a judge and based on this, they had brought the matter before the magistrate.

At this point, McFee attempted to speak to magistrate Zoila Browne, stating that he believed that there was a lot of injustice going on and that there were officers in the court holding back things.

“It’s friends of friends; that’s what’s going on,” said McFee.

The magistrate cut McFee off before he could elaborate on the matter, saying she was not going into the matter at that time.

The matter was stood down for a period of time within which the magistrate contemplated the law and the prosecutor and the defense clarified other matters as well.

It was decided and stated by the magistrate when court resumed that the Magistrate’s Court did have the jurisdiction to hear the charges.

The magistrate stated that the defendants be remanded until next Tuesday, when they will go before the High Court.

Defense lawyer Grant Connell, speaking to the media afterwards, stated that the defence was ready for trial.

“The defence is ready for this matter, so hopefully they will bring it on in the not too distant future, next week or the week after, so this matter will be heard and brought to a rest and my client can be set free, because he’s innocent.”(KR)