Skelly and Gumbo in court — denied bail

DEFENCE ATTORNEY Patrick Godson-Phillip yesterday told the court that the media hype surrounding the country’s most wanted man, Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell, may cause great injustice in his hearing and in the judicial process regarding his kidnaping charges.

Godson-Phillip made this remark while applying to Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrates’ Court for bail on his client’s behalf. “Skelly” is jointly charged with Sean “Gumbo” Vincent in the kidnapping of Benedict Barette at Queen’s Park Savannah West on July 17, 2003. The two are also charged with imprisoning Barette at 58 Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley, on July 17. In addition they are charged with kidnaping Yves Ayoung-Chee at Queen’s Park Savannah West on July 17 and with falsely imprisoning him at 58 Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley, from July 17 to 26. All the charges were laid indictably, so the men were not called upon to enter a plea. In applying for bail on behalf of his clients Godson-Phillip explained that both “Skelly,” 31, and “Gumbo,” 29, of Pelican Ext, Morvant have lived in Trinidad and Tobago all their lives and had no intention of  leaving the country prior to the completion of their cases.

He also noted that both accused had no previous nor pending matters before the court besides the one they are presently charged with, and as such did not pose a flight risk. He also noted that his clients both surrendered to the Army at Maritime Plaza, Barataria yesterday, and since they were charged with bailable offences, he was calling on the magistrate to grant bail to his clients based on these conditions. In response Court Prosecutor Cpl Alexander confirmed that both “Skelly” and “Gumbo” had surrendered to the army yesterday morning, and had their fingerprints taken. However, he was asking the court for some time to have the prints processed and tracing completed before the question of bail is addressed.