RODNEY Beckles, the son of principal of the UWI’s Cave Hill campus Professor Hillary Beckles, who is charged for the murder of Khalil Campbell, was further remanded into custody yesterday when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court due to the absence of the post mortem report.

Shortly after Beckles was taken into the courtroom and placed in the dock, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Stephane Haisley – who is marshalling the prosecution’s case – rose to her feet and briefly outlined the allegations in the matter. She then told presiding magistrate Judith Pusey that the prosecution objected to Beckles being granted bail.

This move, Haisley said, was supported by the number of wounds Campbell, son of Supreme Court Justice Lennox Campbell, received. He was reportedly stabbed more than 21 times. Haisley said this indicated the seriousness of the crime and the nature of the attack. Furthermore, she stated that Beckles posed a threat to society when he is under the influence of marijuana.

“Is he going to go out and continue to smoke and present this kind of danger to society while under the influence?” Haisley asked.

In concluding, Haisley told Pusey that Beckles posed a flight risk as he currently held dual citizenship. The attorney also pointed out that the police had not yet recovered the murder weapon.

Responding to the prosecution’s submissions to Pusey, Attorney-at-Law Patrick Atkinson -who is being assisted by Robert Fletcher and Deborah Martin -began by stating that of the three statements by witnesses to the murder, only one implicated his client. Atkinson said in one of the statements, one witness said that he left while Campbell and Beckles were arguing, and returned to see Campbell on the ground. In the other statement, the witness had been sleeping during the attack.

Atkinson went on to assure Pusey that despite Beckles’ dual citizenship in Jamaica and Barbados his client would not be leaving the island. Atkinson also stated that Beckles would be willing to enter a programme to combat his use of marijuana, and suggested that this be part of any bail conditions imposed by Pusey.

However, upon being instructed by the prosecution that the post mortem report had not yet been submitted, Pusey ordered that the matter be rescheduled for January 18.

“We have to see the post mortem and evaluate it before even considering bail,” Pusey stated.

Beckles was subsequently ordered remanded until that time.