…after DPP withdraws manslaughter charge
The proprietor of Tourist Villa Hotel, who was initially charged with manslaughter for the shooting death of his neighbour, Jason DeFlorimonte, saw the charge being upgraded on Monday to murder.
Remanded: Erwin Bacchus
Erwin Bacchus, of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, was initially charged with manslaughter when he made his first court appearance last month and was released on $1.5 million bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
However, during Monday’s hearing, the manslaughter charge was withdrawn and upgraded to the capital offence of murder.
According to presiding Magistrate Judy Latchman, who read the new charge to Bacchus, the withdrawal was based on the recommendations of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after an investigation into the incident was completed.
Bacchus’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes argued that the decision made by the DPP was nothing but an “abuse of power”.
In his arguments, Hughes argued that it was the now deceased man who armed himself with a knife and a rolling pin and attacked a handyman who ran for cover inside the accused’s residence.
The Attorney said it was at that time that the defendant, who is licensed to carry a firearm, fired two warning shots.
Hughes further noted that the now deceased man told his client that he did not care and continued pursuing the handyman.
During the ordeal, it is alleged that DeFlorimonte attempted to stab Bacchus with the knife when he (Bacchus) shot him several times about his body.
Magistrate Latchman remanded Bacchus to prison.
The matter will continue today for a report on the post-mortem examination.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers informed the court that he was ready for a date for commencement of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) N in which some 20 witnesses would be called to the witness box. The Magistrate set October 3, 2018 for commencement of the PI.
Only recently Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore recused herself from hearing the PI stating that one of the parties involved in the matter approached her concerning the case.
Even though she did not disclose whether it was a relative of the victim or the accused that approached her, she noted that she “doesn’t want anyone to tell her how to do her job”.
