The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a diving instructor in western New Providence.

Brian Miller Jr, 23, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt facing charges of murder, armed robbery and other serious offences stemming from an incident at Stuart Cove’s diving centre on May 1, when British national Gary Vanhoeck was shot and killed.

Miller is claimed to have intentionally caused the Englishman’s death and robbed his wife at gunpoint.

Mr Vanhoeck, an employee at Stuart Cove’s, was shot twice in the head by two masked men during an armed robbery of his wife, Kathryn, who was robbed at gunpoint of assorted gold jewellery and an iPhone together valued at $7,100.

Mrs Vanhoeck was tied up during the incident, but unharmed. However, Mr Vanhoeck was pronounced dead at the scene.

Miller was also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear. Dockets alleged that Miller pulled a Smith and Wesson handgun on Javon Stubbs on May 8 to put him in fear for his life.

The accused was lastly charged with possession of an unlicensed Blacklight Point .40 pistol and 10 live rounds of ammunition that were allegedly found in his possession on May 11.

The chief magistrate informed Miller that he was not required to enter a plea to the charges given their nature and that the case would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court for trial.

A presentation of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment on July 14 will facilitate that process, the chief magistrate added. Miller was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services as the court does not have the jurisdiction to consider a bond. However, he can apply for bail to the Supreme Court.