Auto body repairman to stand trial March 6
WESTERN BUREAU — Everad Ellis, the Anchovy man charged in connection with the seizure of a stolen motor car and other items found at his house earlier this month, is to face trial on March 6, for unlawful possession of property.
The charge was brought against the auto-body repairman in connection with the unlawful possession of a television set that was found at his house, where he operated a garage. He received bail in the amount of $50,000 on that charge, but will still have to remain behind bars as investigations continue into another matter involving a stolen car.
When Ellis was brought before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court Thursday, the prosecution opposed bail on grounds that there were ongoing investigations into how Ellis had come into possession of the stolen Toyota Corolla motor car found on his property.
Should he be granted bail, the prosecution argued, he could interfere with those investigations.
Against that background, RM Paulette Williams granted the prosecution’s request and denied Ellis bail.
Meanwhile, Ellis’ attorney, Dalton Reid, maintained that the car had been left at his client’s house by a man whom his client thought was the lawful owner of the vehicle.
On February 9 at about 1:00 pm, the police, armed with a warrant, went to Ellis’ home and garage at Anchovy where they conducted a search. As a result, they recovered a beige Toyota Corolla motor car with registration number 8058BZ. The number was checked and it was discovered that it belonged to a yellow Mazda and not to the vehicle to which it was attached.
The chassis number on the Toyota, AE110-5054745, was also checked and it was revealed that the car belonged to Rachel Clarke of Eltham View in Spanish Town; and that the car was reported stolen on October 25, 2001.
The police also seized:
* several motor vehicle parts;
* an imitation firearm, weighted with putty;
* a television and car papers; and
* stereo equipment.
Ellis was later slapped with two counts of unlawful possession of property, and receiving stolen property. He will face two separate trials for the two offences.