The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A 30-year-old man was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with the murder of Carmine Jean on November 16. 

Reubin Baker, alias Duran, of Albert Court, faced the charges before Magistrate Samuel McKinney at Court No.1 at the Nassau Street court complex.

According to court dockets, it is alleged that Baker on the date in question by means of unlawful harm intentionally caused the death of Jean.

He was not permitted to enter a plea in the case because the charge is an indictable offence.

Following Magistrate McKinney’s order that Baker be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, his lawyer Stanley Rolle requested that special attention be paid to the accused’s living accommodations. He requested that Baker be housed where he would have access to a bed or sleeping mat. If they could not be provided at the prison, Mr Rolle asked that Baker’s family members be allowed to provide him with them. 

Mr Rolle told the magistrate that his client had recently been released from the hospital following a five week stay and was still medically ill. As a result he said several staples remained in Baker’s body. 

Mr Rolle added that the request was a humane one, saying that should Baker be made to sleep on the concrete floor, as he claimed many inmates did, his medical condition would be compounded.

However, Magistrate McKinney said he could not grant the request, but it would be forwarded to the commissioner of the Department of Corrections.

Baker will next appear in court on February 26, 2015 when a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI) will be read to fast track the case to the Supreme Court.