The four remaining men accused in the 2024 abduction of Joshua David, called `Bricks,’ will have to stand trial in the High Court, according to a ruling by Magistrate Annette Singh yesterday.
Her ruling came after she had found that a prima facie case had been against the quartet.
Following the ruling, the men: Wayne Barker, Devante Mars, Aaron Allen and Dwayne Griffith applied for and were granted bail in the sum of $500,000.
The prosecution objected to bail. However, attorney Damien DaSilva, who appeared for the accused, argued that his clients had consistently attended court when required and would continue to make all scheduled appearances. He further submitted that they were prepared to face the allegations and clear their names before the court.
In granting bail, the magistrate noted that the men had previously attended court as required and had complied with warnings issued when they failed to appear. She also highlighted their willingness to provide explanations whenever they were unable to attend scheduled hearings and found no reason to believe they would not continue to comply with court orders.
David, who was abducted on Main Street, Georgetown on September 26 2024, had gone to purchase food near the New Thriving Restaurant when he was forcibly taken by a group of men. The abduction was captured on video by a passerby and quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread public attention.
Earlier this week, two of the accused in the abduction case were discharged from the proceedings. Osafo Peters and Alpha Poole were both freed after the magistrate ruled that there was insufficient evidence to commit them to stand trial. The court found that the prosecution had not established a strong enough case to proceed against the two men at the High Court level, resulting in their release from the charges.
Discussion