‘Shab Don,’ co-defendant both denied bail in triple-murder case
Published:Tuesday | April 9, 2024 | 12:07 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
Dancehall music producer Linval ‘Shab Don’ Thompson Jr and his co-accused, Tajay Clarke, who are scheduled for trial in 2025 for the June 2022 shooting deaths of three people in Rose Heights, St James, have been denied bail following their latest court appearance last Friday.
Thompson and Clarke, whose trial is set for January 8, 2025, in the St James Circuit Court, had their bail application denied by presiding High Court Justice Bertram Morrison despite attempts by their attorneys to secure bail for them ahead of their trial.
The men are charged with murder in relation to the deaths of 24-year-old Chamario ‘Chippy’ Calvin, 27-year-old Chadwell ‘Bomb Brain’ Frazer, and 26-year-old Toniann ‘Too Fly’ Reid. They are also charged with wounding with intent and shooting with intent in relation to the May 25, 2022, incident.
During the defendants’ latest court appearance, Thompson’s attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, sought bail for his client on the grounds that the witnesses to the triple-murder reportedly indicated that the perpetrators were masked at the time of the incident.
“In my view, even on the question of identification, bail could be considered because what had happened was that when the officer went on the scene of the murder, the witnesses had indicated that the perpetrators were wearing masks and they could not identify them, and that was recorded in the station diary,” Tavares-Finson stated in his application.
“As far as the defence’s case is concerned, he [Thompson] had been out of the area, and these are persons who are saying that he was one of the persons that alighted from the motor vehicle,” Tavares-Finson added, stating that conditions could be imposed on his client to reside outside of St James.
Meanwhile, Clarke’s lawyer, Khadine Colman, sought bail for him on the grounds that he is set to undergo a medical procedure, which cannot be done while he remains in custody.
“No identification parade was ever held as it relates to Mr Clarke, so there is really nothing linking him to these offences. In addition to that, he is supposed to be doing a surgery, which cannot be facilitated while he is in custody,” Colman explained. “He denies the allegations, saying he was nowhere near the area as it relates to the matters which have him here before the court.”
However, the prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that Thompson was pointed out in an identification parade following the incident as well as reports that one of the witnesses and some police personnel had received threats.
The court was also told that a previous bail application for Thompson and Clarke was refused because the judge in that hearing considered both men to be flight risks.
Morrison subsequently denied bail for Thompson and Clarke and affirmed January 8, 2025, as their upcoming trial date.
According to reports, Calvin, Frazer, and Reid were among patrons at a birthday party being held along Marl Road in Rose Heights on May 25, 2022, when a motor vehicle pulled up.
Men alighted from the vehicle and fired on the patrons before making their escape. Calvin, Frazer, and Reid were subsequently pronounced dead, while two other persons were wounded in the incident.