Barbados man remanded to Dodds Prison after $1,600 armed robbery charge

Javonte Marshall-Jordan, 20, was denied bail after a prosecutor cited an unrecovered firearm and a second suspect still at large. Case adjourned to September 25.

Bail denied after firearm cited in Barbados robbery case

A 20-year-old man from Martindales Road, Bannister Land has been remanded to Dodds Prison after appearing in court on a charge of robbing Shane Drax of $1,600 on Saturday, Barbados Today reports.

Javonte Rashide Marshall-Jordan was not required to enter a plea to the indictable offence. Prosecutor Sergeant Kenmore Phillips moved swiftly to oppose any release, telling the court that a firearm had allegedly been used during the robbery and had not yet been recovered.

"There is also another suspect being sought by the police in this case and there is the belief that if released, the accused could interfere or hamper investigations," Phillips told the court, adding that the evidence against Marshall-Jordan was strong.

Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, appearing for the defence, pushed back on both grounds cited by the prosecution. She told the magistrate that her client had never been in possession of any firearm, and challenged the suggestion that his release would obstruct the search for the second suspect.

"I do not think that he can stop the Barbados Police Service from finding another person when that person being apprehended will be to his benefit," Mitchell-Gittens argued.

She also questioned the prosecution's position on evidence, noting that her client had already been formally charged. "I have never heard of a case where a person comes into custody, is charged and then a firearm or anything else magically appears after this person goes to prison," she said.

Mitchell-Gittens further told the court that Marshall-Jordan had no previous convictions, had never before been charged with any offence, and held a fixed address. She said he was willing to comply with any bail conditions the magistrate might impose, and characterised the State's overall case as not particularly strong.

She also pointed out that the second suspect was already the subject of a police wanted bulletin, implying that the authorities had independent means of locating that individual without relying on Marshall-Jordan's continued detention.

Magistrate Manila Renee denied the bail application. The case was adjourned until September 25.

Source: Barbados Today