$250,000 bail for man accused of killing priest

by Paul Henry Observer staff reporter 05.APR.07

JAMAICA – Prince Vale, the 22-year-old man accused of murdering St Jude’s Anglican Church priest, Father Richard Johnson last year, was offered $250,000 bail when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court in Jamaica last Friday.

Following the bail offer, attorney Arthur Kitchin asked Justice Paulette Williams if she could order the transfer of Vale from the Central Police Station lock-up to the Stony Hill police lock-up, until he is bailed, as he was being assaulted at Central.{{more}}

However, Williams informed the attorney that it was not within her power to grant transfers to inmates.

When bailed, Vale will have to report to the Stony Hill Police Station on Mondays and Thursdays between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Vale’s travel documents were ordered surrendered as part of his bail condition.

Vale, otherwise called ‘Bomber’, had his $50,000 bail revoked when his case was transferred from the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court, to the Circuit Court recently.

Kitchin had told the RM court that on November 12, 2006, Vale visited Johnson’s rectory and the priest gave him a pair of pants to try on. The pants could not fit, and while Vale was removing the garment an allegedly nude and sexually aroused Johnson attacked him, the attorney said.

In fending off Johnson’s advances, Kitchin said, Vale took up a knife and stabbed the priest, whose nude body was found the same day lying on a stairwell with several stab wounds.

Vale was seen running away from the rectory minutes after the priest was heard crying out for help.

Following the killing, Vale, who is charged with murder, turned in himself to the Stony Hill police. The accused is to again appear in court on April 20.