The Tribune

By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net AN Abaco man was remanded to Fox Hill Prison yesterday after being arraigned in Magistrates Court in connection with the 20th homicide of the year. Themar Curry, 27, of Coopers Town, Abaco, appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez in Court 1 on Nassau Street. It is alleged that Curry is responsible for the death of 22-year-old Stanley McIntosh, whose body was found with gunshot wounds near the Solid Gold Bar on Don McKay Boulevard shortly before 5am on February 26. Curry was not required to enter a plea to the charge and Chief Magistrate Gomez told the accused the prosecution would present him with a Voluntary Bill of Indictment on May 17 at 10am. His case will go directly to Supreme Court for trial and there are 23 witnesses lined up to give testimony. During the arraignment, defence attorney Michael Kemp asked the court to allow for a toxicology examination of Curry and for the matter to be adjourned for two weeks. "Certain toxicological results from an exam would be proof of a specific intent," he said. Urine and blood tests would show if Curry had been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident. This could possibly "assist in the preparation" of the defence, Mr Kemp said. Mr Kemp told the court that Curry had been in police custody since Sunday and a toxicology test was not done. He also said Curry had a bruised lip but did not want to make complaints to the doctor because police were in the room with him during a physician's visit. "He needs to be examined," he said. In response, police prosecutor Brenda Bain said "it would only be procedure for an officer to be present" during a medical examination of a person in custody. She also said she objects to any adjournment of the date the Bill of Indictment is to be presented, as toxicology tests can be completed before this date. Mr Kemp said he has no objections to the date for the Bill and that the adjournment would only allow for the tests to be done. Chief Magistrate Gomez ruled that the Bill date still stands and that Curry was to be "taken immediately" for toxicological tests.