Jamaican Matthew Sewell leaves court with his lawyer Fred Smith after being released from detention last year. Photo: Jay Isaacs/JKL Media
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
SUPREME Court Justice Bernard Turner granted 27-year-old Matthew Sewell bail on Friday, the latest turn of events in the Jamaican's years of encounters with the law.
After being shuffled between prison and the Detention Centre for more than nine years without facing a hearing on sexual assault, housebreaking and murder charges, Sewell was ordered to be released from prison last October.
However, he was soon arrested again for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old-girl.
Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt granted him $6,500 bail last week.
However, prosecutors for the Attorney General's office appealed the bail ruling, and Justice Turner subsequently ruled that it was unconstitutional for Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt to grant him bail.
Nonetheless, in his ruling on Friday, Justice Turner issued a fresh ruling on the matter, granting Sewell bail at $9,000 with one surety. He indicated that he would give his written reasons for his ruling on Monday, according to his lawyer, Adrian Gibson of Callenders & Co.
Sewell will be required to be electronically monitored. It was ordered that he report to the East Street South Police Station every Tuesday and Saturday on or before 6pm.
He must also be within 200 feet of his house between 9pm and 6am, the justice ordered.
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