BY TASHIEKA MAIR, STAR Writer
WESTERN BUREAU
THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Vinette Ramsarupe of Tucker, Irwin, St. James, who was charged with conspiracy in relation to the murder of popular Montego Bay pastor, 50-year-old Desmond Rankine, was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 with one or two sureties when she appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court last Wednesday.
As condition of bail, she must surrender all her travel documents and there is a stop order on her at all ports of exit. She is also expected to report three days per week to the Granville Police Station.
Ramsarupe's three co-defendants, Roger Horthorn, 34, of Tucker; Leslie Maxwell, 37, of also of Tucker; and Herald Jackson, 37 of Hopeton, St James, were denied bail and will remain in custody until January 4 when their bail applications will be renewed.
ILLEGAL FIREARM
Jackson and Maxwell who were before the court for the first time, along with Horthorn, are all charged with murder. Maxwell who has not yet retained an attorney, is additionally charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. He was pointed out in an identification parade.
When Ramsarupe was first before the court last Thursday, her attorney, Morrell Beckford, argued that there was no concrete evidence presented that could implicate his client.
He said that the only incriminating evidence presented in the file was a statement made by the accused after an alleged argument with the pastor in which she she said, "pastor fi dead." However he said that the phrase was one that is regularly used in Jamaica and therefore was not enough to convict his client. She was then denied bail after the investigating officer indicated to the court that her release would hamper further investigations.
The attorneys representing Horthorn and Jackson asked that RM Winsome Henry thoroughly study the file in order to make a proper decision in regards to bail, as they believe that there is a paucity of evidence against the men. They argue that the evidence presented is speculation.
The police say that on November 30, Pastor Rankine was making his way through a narrow road in Tucker, Irwin, at about 10:15 p.m., when two armed men opened fire at him. He died on the spot. It is said that Pastor Rankine, who also operated Global Evangelism Centre in Montego Bay, had received threats on his life, which were reported to the police.
Horthorn is represented by attorney-at-law Dalton Reid and Trevor Ho-Lyn represents Jackson.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to 
