By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A CROWN prosecutor objected to bail for a man accused of brandishing a firearm and making indirect death threats in a video that went viral on social media.
Ambrose Armbrister, from the Office of the Attorney General, dismissed lawyer Murrio Ducille’s submission that Xavient Taylor was a fit candidate for bail ahead of trial concerning contents of a video posted to Facebook on July 8. Taylor, of Key West Street, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes two weeks ago on a charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to put others in danger of his actions in the near two-minute long video. The alleged firearm was classified as an “imitation” until further investigations can confirm what kind of gun was used by the suspect.
The video showed a man brandishing what appeared to be a fully loaded gun with an extended magazine and making unspecified death threats, while also boasting of his shooting prowess.
In yesterday’s proceedings before Justice Vera Watkins, Mr Ducille argued that his client was being charged with a crime based on a video that Taylor was not visible in and had been deprived of his liberty since his arraignment in Magistrate’s Court.
Mr Armbrister objected to bail on the basis that the alleged crime was committed while the accused was already on bail for a pending murder case before the Supreme Court. Mr Ducille countered that the murder case dated back to 2009 when his client was initially discharged at a preliminary inquiry but the Crown brought the matter back through the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment. The lawyer said Taylor had been on bail for nearly five years up to the time of the alleged incident in question concerning the video.
Justice Watkins asked the prosecutor to produce the charge sheet as well as witness statements to enable her to be in a position to consider bail.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday, August 18.
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