powell

The man charged with the murder of 17-year-old student Khajeel Mais will know today if he will be granted bail.

Queen’s Counsel Patrick Atkinson made a bail application yesterday for 50-year-old businessman Patrick Powell.

However, the Crown is opposing bail and Supreme Court judge Carol Beswick has reserved her ruling until today.

On July 1, Mais was shot dead when the driver of a BMW X6 reportedly opened fire on the taxi in which he was travelling after it bumped into the sports utility vehicle.

It was reported that Powell left the island for the United States one day after the killing. But on July 11, he returned and surrendered to the police at the Norman Manley International Airport.

Khajeel Mais
Khajeel Mais, former Kingston College student who was killed

Atkinson submitted in the Home Circuit Court that Powell should be granted bail because he was not a flight risk. He said Powell had nothing to do with the interference of any witnesses.

The Crown opposed bail on the grounds that the offence was a serious one.

In opposing bail, prosecutors disclosed that on July 17, men posing as policemen went to the home of a witness and told the witness not to identify anyone in connection with the case.

 

SOURCE: jamaicagleaner