BY JONIQUE GAYNOR, Staff Reporter
LIONEL THOMAS, THE man held in connection with the death of Carib Cement Company supervisor, Wayne 'Ricey' Clarke, was denied bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Thomas' attorney, applied for bail on the basis that there was not enough clear-cut evidence against her client and argued that "there's no basis to lock this man up on what you've got". The investigating officer, however, told the court that he was objected to bail since the investigations were still under way.
Though he did not grant the accused bail, RM Martin Gayle ordered the prosecution to provide a report or at least, present hard core proof against him by Friday, January 6, or he would grant him bail.
Clarke went missing from the packing plant at the cement company at around 12:05 a.m. on October 29, 2005. A search was launched and Clarke's bloodstained sneakers were found by the sea. His body was later found floating in the waters along the Palisadoes Main Road near the Gypsum Company.
Thomas was charged after intelligence led the police to believe that a co-worker was responsible for Clarke's death. A number of employees were interviewed and Thomas was formally charged on November 18.
Information received by the police indicates that there was a long dispute between the deceased and Thomas. It is alleged that the dispute stemmed from the fact that Clarke would correct entries made by the accused in the stock register. Thomas reportedly resented this, and eventually stopped speaking to Clarke. It is also alleged that Thomas made numerous threats on Clarke's life.
An on the spot post mortem revealed that Clarke was strangled and stabbed in the neck several times.
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