MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man who was charged, alongside his father, with the fatal shooting of a woman and the injuring of her female relative at their home in Flower Hill, St James, has been granted bail.

Flower Hill resident Lavaughn “Jah Jah” Cooke is jointly charged with 57-year-old Wilford “Kong” Cooke with murder and wounding with intent.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the Crown objected to bail for the younger Cooke on the basis that he posed a flight risk. The court clerk expressed concern that following the commission of the crime, Lavaughn left the area and went to Westmoreland — despite being aware that his name was being called in relation to the murder — and only turned himself in a month later.

However, defence attorney Henry McCurdy argued that his client posed no flight risk.

“He called his lawyer, and his lawyer took him in when he found out that the police were looking for him,” said McCurdy.

During the proceedings, presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, who noted that Lavaughn was identified by an alias and did not appear on an official identification parade as required in those circumstances, described the prosecution’s case as “weak”.

After hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution, the judge granted Lavaughn bail in the amount of $500,000 with up to two sureties under the condition that he reports to a specific police station on specific days and stay away from Flower Hill. He was also instructed to surrender his travel documents, and a stop order will be imposed at all ports.

He is scheduled to return to court on July 24 when the case will be mentioned.

In respect of the elder Cooke, his bail was extended until that date.

According to the allegations, about 3:30 pm on March 17, 36-year-old security guard Nastacia Smith and her relative were inside their house with other family members when both men, armed with firearms, entered the yard and opened fire on them through a bedroom window before escaping in the area.

The police were alerted and on their arrival, Smith was seen lying on her back in blood with a gunshot wound to her chest.

She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead. The other woman was treated and released.

Both Wilford and Lavaughn Cooke were arrested and subsequently charged.