April 27, 2024
Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Jamaica
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Man accused of murdering, robbing elderly businessman has bail further reduced

The man implicated in the murder of a 72-year-old businessman has had his bail sum reduced.

The accused man, Ricardo Taylor, appeared before the St Mary Parish Court on Thursday, October 19.

Taylor was charged in the stabbing death of Ronald Gibbs, a businessman of Wentworth, Galina, St Mary. Gibbs’ body was found with stab wounds at his house on Monday morning, March 8, 2016.

Taylor was initially granted bail in the sum of $300,000 with one to six sureties by senior parish judge Yvette Wentworth-Miller on Thursday, August 17.

However, in court, his attorney disclosed that four persons were “wishing to help him”, but he was still unable to take up his bail.

Judge Wentworth-Miller reduced Taylor’s bail to $250,000 with one to five sureties. All other conditions of his bail remain the same.

As a condition of his bail, Taylor is to report to the Port Maria police station daily between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Also, Taylor is not to leave his house between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In relation to the case, the prosecution is still awaiting outstanding statements. The matter is set to be mentioned on January 11, 2018.

Reports from the Port Maria police were that at about 6:40 a.m. on March 8, 2016, a relative was looking for Gibbs and found him with what appeared to be stab wounds.

The police were summoned and he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The police said at the time that several items were stolen from Gibbs’ house.