Magistrate denies accused burglar bail

Kirk Williams, a person of interest in a burglary case involving Leon Samuel, who was killed by police on October 10, has been charged at the Serious Offences Court.

On October 13, Williams appeared before the court, charged with entering the dwelling house of Anis Issa with another as a trespasser, and in possession of a crowbar and a knife.

Prosecutor in the matter Adolphus Delpesche asked Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias to deny Williams bail, because he was already on bail for a matter of a similar nature at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court. Delpleche said he was fearful that because of Williams’ apparent inclination for these acts, he would continue in this line of activity if bail was granted.

Lawyer for the defence Ronald Marks argued on the premise of innocence until proven guilty and that Delpesche’s concerns could be addressed by placing the defendant on conditional bail, wherein if he stepped a toe out of line, he would be remanded in custody.

However, the Chief Magistrate denied bail, saying that she was not going to ignore Williams’ previous offences.

The defendant is to be remanded in custody until his trial on January 23, 2018.(KR)