Hotel worker on manslaughter rap gets bail

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A hotel employee who was involved in a vehicular collision that claimed a man's life last Saturday will have his case mentioned in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on July 12.

Twenty-three-year-old Tiziano Scapra Picchia, of a Hanover address, was offered bail in the sum of $500,000 in his absence when the case was mentioned in court on Monday, as he was still hospitalised at the time.

The allegations are that, on June 29, at approximately 1:45 a.m., Scapra Picchia was driving from along the Reading main road in St James, en route to Montego Bay, when he drifted to the right side of the road, and collided with another car. Nicoy Brown, who was a passenger in the other car, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

On Monday, attorney-at-law Peter Champagnie, who represented Scapra Picchia, made a successful bail application for his client.

"After the accident, we made arrangements and the accused man was brought to the Freeport Police Station. We have his passport available for the court, and there is nothing to indicate that he is a flight risk," Champagnie told Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tie.

RM Tie granted bail for the absent Scapra Picchia, on condition that he should report to the Freeport Police Station upon his release from hospital.

"He will report to the Freeport Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday upon his discharge. He will surrender his travel documents, and a stop order will be placed at all ports," said RM Tie, as she set the matter for mention on July 12.