Skelly and gang to face trial for kidnapping

Five men were yesterday committed by Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of- Spain First Court, to stand trial for the kidnapping and false imprisonment of murdered businessman, Denis Persad Jodhan. Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell, 31, of Pelican Extension Road in Morvant, and his three accomplices, Sean “Gumbo” Vincent, 29,  Richard Kirton and Jason Joseph, were all committed to stand trial for the Jodhan kidnap, while Brent “Small Brent” Danglade, and each of the other accused, were committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Assizes for false imprisonment of Jodhan.

After the ruling, the public gallery, which at the time was full of relatives, friends and companions of the accused, was filled with “loud whispers,” which caused the magistrate to utter a stern warning to persons who seemed to disturb the court’s proceedings. “Persons who wish to speak are asked to step outside,” said the magistrate. According to Espinet, “The court finds that not only are these men charged with false imprisonment and kidnapping, but each of the two charges has been disclosed by the evidence brought forward by the court.” Attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips quickly submitted an application for bail on behalf of the accused. In respect to Joseph and Kirton, who had been out on bail during the preliminary inquiry, Godson-Phillips asked the magistrate to take into consideration their continued presence during the matter. The attorney asked for bail with surety.
However, State attorney Tricia Hudlin said if bail was to be fixed, conditions should be applied.

After hearing both submissions, the magistrate granted bail to Joseph and Kirton of $400,000 each with a surety to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace. Noting that his bail application had not yet ended, Godson-Phillips then requested bail for Lovell, Danglade, and Vincent, the three accused who were recently committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Assizes for Jodhan’s murder. According to Godson-Phillips, “Let’s say the DPP throws out this capital offence tomorrow, then bail will already be set, once it is granted by you, the magistrate, today.” The magistrate denied the submission, however, saying in the event of such an occurrence, the accused persons who remain remanded will have access to the courts to seek bail. “What we have to consider here Mr Phillips, is the fact that there are pending matters and the nature of those matters,” said the magistrate. Lovell, Danglade and Vincent were all remanded into custody.

At the end of the proceedings, Espinet congratulated Hudlin on a job well done and the excellent manner in which she approached the case. On behalf of the State, Hudlin called 11 witnesses, all of whom came forward and gave evidence.  Persad, 30, was kidnapped outside his father’s businessplace, Dumplin’s Mini Mart in Curepe, on December 23 2002. A ransom of $800,000 was demanded for his safe return, but his body was found in San Juan days after he was kidnapped.