Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on Thursday granted bail to five teenage boys accused of assaulting each other and one who attempted to murder another boy when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Eighteen-year-old Keshawn Heywood of 123 Third Street, Alberttown pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Deion Allen, 17. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge of attempted murder of Keith Allen.
Meanwhile, Daren Andrews and Albert Nedd both 18-years-old, Deion Allen, Junior Luke, 19, all of North Sophia, GPL Reserve, pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Heywood and Denzel Beckles. Deion Allen also pleaded not guilty to unlawfully assaulting Shelila Beckles causing her actual bodily harm.
The prosecution said from information gathered on Thursday Heywood stabbed Keith Allen in the neck during a bout of gang violence. Allen was hospitalised at the city hospital.
Shelila Beckles then told the court that she along with her sister and Denzel Beckles were on the seawalls near Sherriff Street when Keith and Deion Allen, Andrews, Nedd, Luke and several others approached and proceeded to beat them. Beckles told the court that she is four months pregnant and that one of the teens kicked her in the abdomen after hitting Denzel in the head with a piece of wood.
She said too her sister attempted to escape but fainted shortly after and the teens allegedly continued to beat her. Beckles said Denzel managed to escape and ran to his cousin Heywood for assistance but when Heywood enquired what was happening he too was allegedly beaten. She also alleged that a policeman was a part of the gang that assaulted them and when they sought assistance from a police vehicle Nedd, Luke, Andrew, Allen and several others continued their assault and threw glass bottles at them.
Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-a-Fat who appeared for Allen, Nedd, Luke and Andrews said his clients were charged with a bailable offence and that they would not respond to any statements made until the trial.
Meanwhile, attorney Adrian Thompson who appeared for Heywood, told the court that though Keith Allen was hospitalised he was not in a critical condition and that if his client was imprisoned he may suffer grievous injuries.
The prosecution did not object to bail for any of the accused though it submitted that they should be warned that they should avoid confrontations.
Magistrate Robertson subsequently granted Nedd, Luke and Andrews bail in the sum of $55, 000 and Allen $80, 000. Heywood was bailed in the sum of $425, 000. The accused were all ordered to return to court on December 2. Further, Keith Allen will answer to his charges when he recovers from his injuries.
