Man charged in female security guard’s murder offered bail, son remanded

WESTERN BUREAU:

The St James Parish Court has granted bail in the sum of $600,000 to a St James man accused of the March 17 shooting death of security officer Nastacia Smith, while his son has been remanded until June 12, when the case will be mentioned.

Wilford Cooke, 57, and his 21-year-old son Lavaughn Cooke are charged with murder and wounding with intent arising from the incident, which, according to reports, took place in Flower Hill, St James, and resulted in a witness being injured. They were given the new court date when they appeared in court on Thursday, May 9.

During Thursday’s bail application, which was made on the duo’s behalf by their attorney, Henry McCurdy, presiding Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton expressed concern about the identification of Wilford Cooke as a suspect in the report.

“Here it is that allegations are being made against Mr Wilford Cooke, that he was one of the shooters in relation to this matter, but the witness who identifies him as the shooter goes on an identification parade and does not point him out as the shooter. I find that to be very curious, as that weakens, in some aspect, the strength of the evidence against Mr Cooke,” said Fairclough-Hylton.

“Also, this is a situation where the accused, Wilford Cooke, based on his defence, is known to the witness. On the day of the incident when the report was made about who did the shooting, it does not appear that Mr Wilford Cooke’s name was called on that day…it also does not appear that after the allegations were made, that Mr Wilford Cooke removed himself from the location,” Fairclough-Hylton continued, referencing concern about whether the senior Cooke would be a flight risk.

On that basis, Fairclough-Hylton offered bail to Wilford Cooke in the sum of $600,000 with a surety, with instructions that he must relocate from St James, report to the police three times a week, and surrender his travel documents.

The senior Cooke was also ordered not to have any contact with any witnesses in the case nor be seen in St James, except for when he is to attend court.

PERSON OF INTEREST

Meanwhile, in relation to the son, Lavaughn Cooke, Fairclough-Hylton denied bail for him on the grounds of the prosecution’s concern that he left the parish of St James and did not initially surrender himself, despite being contacted by the police as a person of interest.

“The report from the outset indicated that Lavaughn Cooke was one of the shooters. This incident took place on March 17, and after a police officer spoke to him, he remained away from St James … . At this time, I have considered bail for Mr Lavaughn Cooke, and bail is considered and denied,” said Fairclough-Hylton.

The court was also told that several documents are still outstanding from the prosecution’s case file, to include the medical certificate, the first responder’s statement, and the ballistic certificate.

The matter was subsequently set for mention on June 12, and both Cookes were taken back into custody.

According to the allegations, on March 17 at 3:30 p.m., Smith and a female relative were inside their house with other family members when two armed men entered the yard and opened gunfire at them through a bedroom window before fleeing.

The police were summoned, and on their arrival, Smith was seen with a gunshot wound to her chest. The two women were taken to hospital where Smith was pronounced dead and the other woman was treated and released.

Following investigations, Wilford and Lavaughn Cooke were arrested and subsequently charged.