The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN from the community known as The Mud spent his last evening as a 38-year-old behind bars following his arraignment on a murder charge yesterday.

Rodriguez Jean Pierre, of Abaco, who turns 39 today, was arraigned before Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell in connection with the country's 26th homicide for 2012.

After confirming his ability to speak and understand English, he told the magistrate he was born in the Bahamas.

It is alleged that on Saturday, March 24, he stabbed 59-year-old Wendell Miller.

Mr Miller was found near the Road Traffic Department on Crockett Drive and Bay Street around 2.30pm Saturday.

He reportedly got into an argument with a man he knew and was stabbed in the neck as a result. He died of his injuries at the Marsh Harbour Clinic.

The Charles Boo Yard resident was not required to enter a plea to the charge due to the nature of the offence.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Bethell told the accused, who appeared without representation, that his case would go directly to Supreme Court for trial by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment.

The accused said he did not understand the VBI process.

She told him that on June 15, he would be served with the Bill along with witness statements to use in his defence.

She added that this process was shorter and less time-consuming than holding a preliminary hearing.

Before he was removed from Court 8, the magistrate told the accused that if he could not afford an attorney, he has the right to petition the Supreme Court for one when he is arraigned before the higher court.

He was remanded to Her Majesty's Prison, Fox Hill until the completion of the trial.