Tyre repairman on murder charge gets June 24 hearing date
Published:Monday | June 3, 2024 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Oppley Ebanks, the St James man who reportedly used a stone to beat another man to death during a confrontation on January 14, will learn whether his case will be tried in the St James Circuit Court when he attends his scheduled committal hearing on June 24.
Ebanks, a tyre repairman from Montego Bay who is charged with the murder of 40-year-old labourer Santino Plummer, was given the hearing date by presiding Judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce when he appeared in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday.
During the brief mention of Ebanks’ matter, the prosecution told the court that its case file was now complete, as the post-mortem report, which was outstanding, was recently submitted to the clerk of the court.
The court was also reminded that Ebanks, who is currently in police custody, was previously offered bail which he has yet to take up. He had been offered bail on February 21 in the sum of $800,000 with two sureties, which was later reduced to $600,000 on April 18 following an application by his attorney, Jermaine Campbell.
“Oppley Ebanks, how are you today, sir?” Grant-Pryce asked the defendant directly, following the prosecution’s updates.
“I’m okay,” Ebanks answered.
“You’re getting the same bail offer, and if somebody comes to bail you, you are to return to this court on June 24, which is your next court date in relation to this matter. Sir, if you take up your bail before this date, if somebody comes to bail you before June 24, walk with whoever bailed you on June 24,” Grant-Pryce advised Ebanks before he was taken back into custody.
The judge also ordered that the prosecution is to serve all document bundles to Campbell by or before June 17, ahead of the scheduled June 24 committal hearing date.
According to the allegations, about 11:30 p.m. on January 14, Plummer, who was of a Lilliput address, went to a football playfield to conduct a business transaction. While there, an argument reportedly developed between him and a woman, in which Ebanks intervened.
The confrontation between the two men turned physical, during which Ebanks allegedly used a stone to strike Plummer. The police were summoned and, on their arrival, Plummer was seen lying face down in blood with a wound to the head.
Ebanks, who was seen running from the scene, was chased and held by the lawmen. He was taken into custody and formally charged after a question-and-answer session.
During Ebanks’ previous bail hearing on February 21, Campbell had argued that the accused man had been defending himself and the woman from Plummer, and that Ebanks was taken into custody while he and the woman were on their way to the police. Campbell later indicated on April 18 that the woman was Ebanks’ girlfriend.