The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 22-year-old man was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court on Friday on murder charges concerning the shooting death of a man in the Market Street area on Hallowe’en night.

Edward Dames, of King Street, appeared before Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing a murder charge for his alleged October 31 slaying of Reno Gilbert at Wellington Street, off Market Street.

According to reports, shortly after 10pm, police received a report of a man being shot at Wellington Street. On arrival, police found Gilbert with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, but later died.

A short while later, police said officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit arrested an adult male in connection with the incident.

On Friday, Chief Magistrate Forbes informed Dames that he was not required to enter a plea, and that the matter would likely proceed in the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment.

The Chief Magistrate then adjourned the matter to December 13 at 10am. Dames was subsequently denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

Before being escorted from the court room by police, however, Dames’ attorney Calvin Seymour claimed his client was beaten while in police custody, and that his client’s ribs were hurting as a result.

Chief Magistrate Forbes noted Mr Seymour’s claims, informing both he and his client that he would advise the prison doctor to examine Dames on arrival at the BDCS.