July 22 date for accused gunman in CCTV footage to face St James Circuit Court
Published:Monday | April 22, 2024 | 12:05 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Tyrese Hunter, the St James man accused of the 2023 shooting death of 34-year-old vendor Akeem Robinson, which was caught on CCTV footage in Montego Bay, will make his first appearance before the St James Circuit Court on July 22.
Hunter, who is charged with murder in relation to Robinson’s death, got the court date and was remanded by presiding parish judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton on Friday, following a committal hearing for his matter to be transferred from the St James Parish Court to the Circuit Court for trial.
“Having read the committal bundle that has been prepared in respect of your matter, a prima facie case having been made out against you, Mr Tyrese Hunter, for the offence of murder, you are hereby committed to take and stand your trial at the next sitting of the St James Circuit Court to be held on July 22, 2024. You are remanded in custody until then,” Fairclough-Hylton told Hylton before he was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom by police officers.
The progression of Hunter’s case had stalled on previous occasions due to the delay in adding video footage to complete the prosecution’s case file.
Meanwhile, Andeno Burnett, another defendant who was previously identified as being involved in Robinson’s murder, was remanded for his case to return before the court on May 9.
It was disclosed that statements are outstanding in relation to Burnett’s case file, and that the prosecution is particularly awaiting an eyewitness statement. It is also understood that disclosure of documents is to be made to Burnett’s attorney, Chumu Parris.
Robinson, who originally hailed from Burnt Savannah in St Elizabeth, was shot and killed in broad daylight on November 23, 2023, along Fustic Road in Montego Bay, St James.
According to reports, Robinson was sitting along the roadway sometime after 2 p.m. when he was approached by the lone occupant of a motorcycle, who pulled a gun and opened fire on him. Robinson was shot in the head, following which the gunman escaped on the motorcycle.
Robinson was subsequently taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he died while being treated. His death came hours after a state of public emergency had been issued for St James to deal with crime in the parish.
The Montego Bay Criminal Investigation Bureau launched a probe using canvassing and CCTV to identify and trace the perpetrator. This led to the arrest of Hunter on December 4, 2023, with the motorcycle believed to be involved found in his possession.
It is also understood that prior to his arrest in this case, Hunter had been granted bail in the Western Regional Gun Court in September 2023 in relation to a firearm charge.
With regard to Burnett, he was also arrested and charged with Robinson’s murder following investigations by the police. However, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court on December 11, 2023.
Burnett had previously been arrested and charged in March 2023, and again in September 2023, in relation to illegal firearm and ammunition charges prior to Robinson’s killing.