News

Accused 'masked stabber' remanded

By TASHIEKA MAIR, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Nevlon Buchanan, of Norwood, in St. James, who is accused of attacking and inflicting 19 stab wounds on another man, was denied bail on Thursday when the case against him was first heard in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Allegations are that last Tuesday - September 6 - at about 9:00 p.m., the complainant, who was Buchanan's neighbour, was opening his gate to enter his yard when he heard sounds coming from nearby bushes. He subsequently saw a man running from behind a truck towards him.

The complainant told the court that he started to run but was stabbed in his side, neck and other parts of his body several times. He reportedly collapsed in an area near a streetlight. He said he was stabbed several times in the back while he was on the ground.

While he did not initially recognise his attacker, the complainant said when the man spoke, he recognised the voice as that of Buchanan. He also said that although he was wearing a stocking over his face, he was still able to recognise his features.

The complainant, who had to undergo surgery and was hospitalised four days later, has since relocated from the Norwood area.

Attorney-at-law Adrian Days, who is representing Buchanan, said that identification would be a major issue in the case as his client had been identified by voice even though the time was dark and the person was wearing a mask.

However, RM Winsome Henry told Mr. Days that it was quite possible to identify people by their voice. She also pointed out that the police had recovered Buchanan's cellular phone from the scene of the crime and that it formed part of the evidence against him.

The RM said she would not consider offering bail to Buchanan even though the complainant had moved from the area, contending that she was concerned that he would still be able to interfere with the complainant. She said she was also disturbed at the number of times the complainant had been stabbed, in what she describes as a 'most vicious attack'.

Buchanan was remanded and will be brought to court on October 5.