THE man who allegedly chopped another to death in front of his two young sons, following a dispute over ackees, was refused bail when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

David Burke was allegedly chopped to death by the accused, Rosyiade Cunningham, and two other men, after Burke reportedly saw Cunningham picking his ackees and told him to stop.

Allegations are that about 8:00 am on February 5, Burke, a 35-year-old woodcarver, and his two sons were at home at South Road in Kencot, Kingston 5, when he had an argument with Cunningham whom he had allegedly seen picking his ackees.

Cunningham reportedly left and returned with two other men and proceeded to chop the complainant with machetes in the presence of the two boys.

Burke who received chop wounds on the left side of his head, shoulder and other parts of his body was rushed to Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Cunningham was later arrested and charged but his alleged accomplices are still on the run.

Yesterday, when the case was mentioned, Attorney Patrick Peterkin asked Parish Judge Simon Maddix to consider granting his client bail.

But the prosecutor told the judge that the police were opposed to bail based on the fact that the two witnesses are children and fears for their safety if the accused is granted bail, and also the fact that two other suspects are still at large.

Parish Judge Ellis subsequently upheld the police’s objection and denied Cunningham bail.

— Tanesha Mundle