The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A DAY after a man on bail was taken into police custody charged with murder, the Christie administration outlined restrictions in a Bill to Amend the Bail Act that aims to lessen the number of violent offenders who receive bail.

Legal Affairs Minister Damian Gomez also tabled statistics showing that between January 2013 and August 2014, 592 people were granted bail, including 90 accused of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, abetment, causing harm or other crimes against the person - while 121 were denied bail for those serious offences.

He said 41 had their bail conditions varied; seven had their bail revoked and 334 people have had their cases adjourned.

Regarding armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, receiving and burglary crimes against people or involving property offenses, 135 applicants in this category were granted bail while 38 had their bail conditions varied. He said 78 people either had their bail application denied, revoked or dismissed, while 218 had their cases adjourned.

As for rape, attempted rape or rape with another offence, 25 applicants were granted bail while five had their bail conditions varied. He said 11 either had their bail application denied, revoked or dismissed while 26 had their cases adjourned.

The government, responding to widespread criticism that courts too often grant bail to people who commit serious offences and then re-offend, highlighted the enhanced restrictions bail applicants will face if the Bill is passed.

Under the present Bail Act, people charged with such major crimes as murder, armed robbery, rape, possession of automatic weapons, possession of a firearm with intent and kidnapping are prohibited from receiving bail except when the court believes such people have not been tried within a reasonable time or are unlikely to be tried within a reasonable time, so long as certain conditions are met.

Under the Bill to Amend the Bail Act, applicants, as opposed to the prosecution, will have the onus of proving that they should be granted bail. The court will be forced to consider the safety of alleged victims of their crimes when deciding whether to grant bail.  

He said the amendments will protect complainants and prevent the “fraudulent practice of professional bondsman”.

Mr Gomez told The Tribune that renovations to the Ansbacher Building on Bank Lane, which will house additional courts, should be completed by the end of next month, with the courts being phased in overtime.

The Bill to Amend the Bail Act was commended by all PLP members during their contributions yesterday, though Nassau Village MP Dion Smith joined Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins in calling for greater initiatives in the fight against crime, such as increased use of CCTV, helicopters and drones over hot spots.

The Bill was passed by the House of Assembly last night.