Lawyer, co-defendants accused of prostitution have bails extended

WESTERN BUREAU:

Embattled attorney Lennox Gayle and several co-defendants who were arrested following allegations that the attorney was benefiting from the earnings of prostitutes, had their bails extended when they appeared in court yesterday.

Gayle and his co-accused - Kadian Grey, Shavel Harriot, Nyoka Jolly, Sheline Reid, Kiwania Cole, and Amanda Wallace - had their bails extended to next month, following their appearance in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, as the prosecution's case-file was not ready. Additionally, a warrant was stayed for another co-defendant, Shanique Fennell, who was absent from Wednesday's proceedings, until the next court date.

Gayle, who is represented by attorneys Churchill Neita and Dwight Reece, is accused of false and misleading conduct.

It is alleged that Gayle was running a massage parlour in Montego Bay, where prostitution was said to be taking place.

He was arrested on April 16, and has been charged alongside co-defendants Grey, Harriot, Jolly, Reid, Fennell, Cole, and Wallace.

When the case was mentioned on Wednesday, clerk of the court Natalie Malcolm told presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie that several scene-of-crime documents were outstanding.

"The scene-of-crime department in Montego Bay is to produce some CDs, and they are not here," said Malcolm.

The court was also told that a meeting is to be held to determine how the prosecution will proceed with the case. Subsequently, Tie set the case for mention on January 27.

- Christopher Thomas