Father of three charged with Petit Bordel murder

A father of two primary school-aged children, and an eight month old baby was charged with a Petit Bordel murder, and also fined for traffic violations.

Jamarlie Delplesche, 25, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John yesterday, November 25, 2024, charged that on September 29, 2024 at Petit Bordel with malice aforethought, he caused the death of Otnell Lavia of Petit Bordel by an unlawful act. Senior Magistrate John informed Delplesche that he was not required to plea to the indictable offence and that bail was not available to him.

Lavia was shot and killed some time after 2:00 a.m near a seemingly abandoned property in Petit Bordel. One resident recalled hearing multiple gunshots on the Sunday night, after which, someone cried out, causing other community members to gather at the scene. There, they discovered the bullet-riddled body of the father of five.

Delplesche was remanded. Iran Stapleton, 27, appeared in court on October 9, 2024 where he also was charged with Lavia’s murder. Both men will reappear in court on December 5, 2024. After his arraignment, Delplesche was escorted to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Tammika Mckenzie, where he was charged with three traffic offences that were committed on November 20, 2024.

Delplesche pleaded guilty that being the driver of motor vehicle P-1598, he drove an unlicensed vehicle without being the holder of a driving permit, and drove without being enforced an insurance policy.

The facts are that around 3:45 p.m on the date in question PC 327 Samuel was among a party of police personnel from the Chateaubelair Police Station on mobile patrol duties along the Rose Bank public road. The officers observed motor vehicle P-1598, travelling from the direction of Barrouallie towards Chateaubelair.

Acting on information received, they signalled the vehicle to stop and the driver, who later gave his name to the police as Jamarlie Delpesche of Redemption Sharpes, complied.

The vehicle and its occupants were escorted to the Chateaubelair Police Station where a complete search was conducted on the vehicle, but nothing illegal was found.

However during the search, PC 327 Samuel observed the vehicle license sticker displayed on the front windscreen had expired by almost three months.

He pointed out his observation to Delplesche who replied “officer me ain’t know anything about that, is not my vehicle, ah borrow it from ah brethren”.

PC 327 Samuel then asked Delplesche for his driving permit and he responded, “officer me license get bun up.” However, the Officer discovered that Delplesche was not the holder of a driving permit.

Delpesche was arrested and charged with driving an unlicensed vehicle, driving without being the holder of a driving permit, and driving without being enforced an insurance policy.

Grant Connell, who also represented Delplesche during his murder arraignment, told the court that Delplesche is a father of children eight and four years old, as well as a three month old baby.

For driving without a permit, Senior Magistrate McKenzie fined Delpesche $350 to be paid by December 6, 2024, or spend four weeks in prison. He also received a two month sentence but this is suspended for two months.

For driving without a relevant license, Delpesche was fined $250 to be paid by December 18, 2024, in default of which he will serve three weeks in prison; and for driving without insurance, he was fined $800 to be paid by January 30, 2025 or spend eight weeks in prison.