Man on ‘double jeopardy’ murder charge remanded

Magistrate Kim Kyte-John remanded to prison a man who was recently freed of a murder charge when he appeared before her at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court to answer to the same charge.

The High Court, in December 2006, had ordered that Nyron Jameer, of Tempie Village, West Coast Berbice be released from prison after the man was charged with murdering his reputed wife Indranie Bridgelall. A few days after his release, Jameer was rearrested and again charged with the offence. He was remanded to prison on December 12 when he appeared at court.

According to the facts of the case, Jameer, on September 24, 2003, at Abary River, allegedly murdered Bridgelall. Reports said the woman’s body bore marks of violence when it was discovered at about 5 pm at their Abary River ranch. While making a report to the police Jameer was arrested and charged.

In his application for bail, defence counsel James Bond told the court that the High Court freed Jameer for the same offence. He said to again arrest and charge Jameer was grossly unfair. Further, Bond said, the common law remedies such blatant acts of abuse of process and Jameer’s presence at court offends the rule against “double jeopardy.” He said, “A man simply cannot be made to answer twice to a single charge.”

Bond also said that the police could not find the evidence to convict his client in the first instance and wonders where they would now find it. Bond appealed for the committal proceedings to be quashed “as it is arbitrary, unlawful, unfair and malicious.” He also told the magistrate that if she was disinclined to cancel the process at the time that she grant his client bail on his own recognisance.

In his submission Police Prosecutor Rawle Ferreira asked the court for an adjournment to reply.

Jameer was ordered to appear at court on January 15.