The two men who appeared before the Serious Offences Court in Kingstown on Friday each on a separate murder charge have been remanded in prison until their preliminary inquiry on Sept. 9.
Orande Dunbar aka Bells, 37, of Rillan Hill, and Michael Olan Lyscott aka Metal, 20, of Old Montrose, were each not required to plead to the indictable charge.
Senior Magistrate Colin John read Dunbar the charge that on Sept. 7, 2023, at Buccament Bay, he murdered Jervany Baptiste, of Rose Place.
Detective Sergeant 740 Duncan of the Major Crimes Unit is the lead investigator.
Lyscott was charged that on Nov. 18, 2023, at Layou, he murdered Leon Gaymes, a resident of the Central Leeward town.
Detective Constable 120 Collins is leading that investigation.
Prosecutor Inspector of Police Renrick Cato told the court that the Crown intends to call 16 or 17 witnesses at the preliminary inquiry.
Lawyer Grant Connell appeared for Lyscott. Dunbar was unrepresented.
As Dunbar was awaiting his court appearance, he accused Duncan of being wicked in bringing the murder charge against him.
The detective maintained his usually jovial disposition and laughed as Dunbar repeatedly levelled the accusation.
However, another prisoner, who was awaiting their court appearance on charges in relation to the alleged attempted robbery of a credit union in South Rivers on Tuesday, praised the officer.
The prisoner said that Duncan, who is nearing 20 years of service and has worked on a number of major criminal cases, has never hit him nor has he ever heard anyone accuse the officer of hitting them.
But Dunbar responded saying that Duncan had hit him hard by bringing the murder charge.
The accused murderer noted that bail is not immediately available to a murder accused and said this means that he would have to remain in prison until his matter is disposed of.
He further said he is a poor man and could not afford a lawyer.
The country’s legal aid system provides a lawyer at the High Court for people who are committed to stand trial for murder and prove that they cannot afford to pay for legal counsel.
However, an accused person must stand the cost of legal representation at the preliminary inquiry stage.
Dunbar told Duncan that he is a spiritual Baptist and would read his Bible and cast a spell, causing his feet to swell and make him unable to walk.
Dunbar also commented similarly to acting Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for crime-fighting, Tevor “Buju” Bailey, when the senior officer entered the court sometime after.
Bailey also appeared to have dismissed the comment light-heartedly.
Dunbar is the second person to be charged with murder in connection with Baptiste’s death.
Romando Romano Andrews aka Russian has been on remand since January awaiting the outcome of a preliminary inquiry into a charge that he murdered Baptiste.
Baptiste was gunned down around 7:55 a.m. while on his way to work at the then-construction site of Sandals Beaches Resort.
Dunbar, is the older brother of Schemel Dunbar aka Jacket, 36, a contract killer who was sentenced to life imprisonment on Aug. 2, 2023, for the May 4, 2017 murder of Danroy Cozier, a 26-year-old police constable, and Nicholas Cozier, his 19-year-old brother.
Dunbar’s co-conspirator, fellow Rillan Hill resident, Kendine Douglas aka Hoodie, 36 also received a life sentence while the mastermind of the killings, Richard Francis aka Carib, a 38-year-old ex-cop, of Layou, who had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 33 years and nine months in prison.
The Dunbars’ younger brother, Jamarlo Dunbar aka Ice, of Pole Yard, originally from Rillan Hill, was shot and killed in the street near Randy’s Supermarket and Bakery in Arnos Vale around 4:40 a.m. on May 6, 2023, as he walked home.