ST JAMES, Jamaica — A mechanic accused of the 2023 shooting death of 34-year-old vendor Akeem Robinson, which was allegedly captured on CCTV footage, will find out on April 4 whether he has a case to answer.

Tyrese Hunter of a John’s Hall address in St James, was given the committal hearing date when he appeared before presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley at the St James Parish Court on Tuesday.

During the hearing, the judge will examine the evidence presented by the prosecution to determine whether there is enough to warrant moving the case to the Circuit Court for a trial.

On Tuesday, during Hunter’s court appearance, it was revealed that the prosecution had not yet received the outstanding video footage essential for building their case against the accused.

It is understood that someone from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Communications Forensic and Cybercrime Division should have been assigned to complete the preparation of the footage for submission to the case-file, but it is unclear whether anyone has been assigned.

Judge Smith-Ashley subsequently remanded Hunter into police custody until April 4, by which time it is expected that the video footage will be delivered to complete the file.

Robinson, originally from Burnt Savannah in St Elizabeth, was shot and killed on Fustic Avenue in Montego Bay, St James, on the afternoon of November 23, 2023.

According to reports, Robinson was sitting on the roadway sometime after 2:00 pm when he was approached by the occupant of a motorcycle, who pulled a gun and opened fire on him. Robinson was shot in the head, following which the gunman escaped on the motorcycle.

Robinson was subsequently taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died while being treated.

The Montego Bay Criminal Investigation Bureau initiated an investigation using canvassing and CCTV to identify and track down the culprit. As a result, Hunter was apprehended on December 4, and the motorcycle suspected to be connected to the incident was found in his possession.

It is also understood that prior to his arrest in this case, Hunter had been granted bail in the Western Regional Gun Court in September 2023 in relation to a firearm charge.

Following police investigations, another suspect, Andeno ‘Deno’ Barrett, who had previously been arrested in March 2023 for possessing an illegal firearm and ammunition, was arrested and charged with Robinson’s murder. However, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court on December 11, 2023.