Western Bureau: After close to three months behind bars, 23 year-old Howard Grandston, who has been charged for the August 3 murder of Philbert Daley, a Montego Bay jerk chicken vendor, has been granted bail in the sum of $200,000.

Montego Bay Resident Magistrate, Valerie Stephens offered him bail Wednesday after the witnesses in the matter once again failed to show up for court.

The clerk of court revealed that four preliminary trial dates have already had to be postponed because witnesses had not come to court, except on the last occasion when one person turned up.

Grandston is alleged to have stabbed 44 year-old Daley after they got into argument over payment for a piece of chicken he intended to purchase.

Grandston, who was on his way from work at the Data Centre at the Montego Bay Free Zone at 12:30 am on August 3, stopped at Sam Sharpe Square to purchase the chicken from the vendor.

Daley reportedly gave him the chicken and he handed over $500 as payment. But Daley could not find any change and Grandston allegedly told him to give back the money and attempted to return the chicken. The vendor refused to take it back and the two men began to argue. During the argument, Grandston reportedly pulled his ratchet knife and fatally stabbed Daley in the chest.

Grandston’s attorney, Roy Fairclough, has however disputed the allegations, suggesting that his client acted in self-defence.

According to Fairclough, the deceased man was armed with a chopper at the time of the incident, contrary to what the prosecution may contend later.