The Tribune

A MAN accused of murdering a former police constable outside a nightspot claimed he could not have done the deed.

Antoine Wright, 31, of Hay Street who faces a charge of murder, claimed he was detained in a police station

when the fatal shooting they claim he did on the eve of Valentine's Day took place.

It is alleged that he, on February 13, murdered 31-year-old Kenneth Gibson, the country's 15th homicide victim for 2012.

Gibson of Sandilands Village Road was shot multiple times around 5.30am outside the club at East Bay and Mackey Streets, opposite the foot of the old Paradise Island Bridge.

Before the arraignment took place, attorney Ian Cargill, sitting in for Shaka Serville, brought the situation to the attention of Magistrate Jeanine Weech-Gomez.

Mr Cargill said the claim of the accused could be proven by his detention record, if he was in custody as he claims.

The Magistrate, however, was sceptical that the police would bring such a charge against a man who was in custody.

"Anything is possible," Mr Cargill replied.

"It will take nothing off the prosecutor to verify if he was in custody. And if he is correct, something is seriously wrong."

The attorney gave an example of what he claimed recently occurred in a lower court when a man, accused of housebreaking, proved that he was in Her Majesty's Prison when the incidents occurred, although police had reportedly had confession statements lined up for each of the counts.

The magistrate proceeded with the arraignment and set aside a date – August 3 – when the police prosecutor would notify the court after investigating the claims.

Nevertheless, November 29, was set aside for the service of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment, which will fast track his case to the Supreme Court.

In the meantime he was remanded in custody.