MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Even as Patrick Thompson, the licensed firearm holder who is accused of killing two women and injuring three others last month here, was remanded on Wednesday, his attorney King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie appealed for the case not to be tried in the public domain.

Champagnie and attorney Samoi Campbell are representing Thompson. The renowned defence attorney told journalists of his concern as he left the Manchester Parish Court moments after Thompson was remanded until March 19 when a bail application is expected to be made.

“Myself and Miss Campbell, we are appealing for good sense to prevail in the sense that the matter is now before the court and any social commentary on social media platforms is likely to be injurious not just to the rights of the accused, but also persons concerned,” he said.

“In short, what we are appealing for is for the matter to be ventilated in court and not elsewhere. We don’t want any prejudice to arise one way or another, so against that background, neither myself nor Miss Campbell would be in a position to comment in terms of the allegations and the particulars surrounding the reasons for the charge for Mr Thompson,” he added.

Thompson made his first court appearance on Wednesday dressed in black T-shirt and jeans, and saying “good morning” as he was escorted into the courtroom to face presiding judge Monique Harrison.

Champagnie told the court that he had only received preliminary statements and would rather apply for bail for Thompson at the next court date.

“It is the intention to make an application for bail on the next occasion, but as one would appreciate with matters like these where there are a number of statements, it would not be prudent to make an application for bail today (Wednesday) without having access and making an assessment of the statements that the prosecution have,” Champagnie told journalists.

“They have a duty to disclose and when we get those statements then we will be in a position to make an application for bail for Mr Thompson,” he added.

Thompson, otherwise called “Big T” or “Thommo”, an engineer of Levy Lane in Manchester, is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two of counts wounding with intent, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of assault at common law, two counts of possession of firearm and ammunition with intent to commit injury, and using a firearm to commit a felony following the incident on Levy Lane on Sunday, February 23.

Those killed are Stacy-Ann Mulgrave, 42, of Barnstable District, Manchester, and Ann-Marie Hanson, 46, of Caledonia Road, Manchester.

A police report said about midnight, Thompson was at a candlelight vigil when he and a man got into an argument over a motor vehicle accident. The argument escalated, and a crowd gathered. It is alleged that Thompson, who is a licensed firearm holder, opened gunfire at the crowd, hitting multiple persons before leaving the area. The injured persons were assisted to the hospital, where Mulgrave and Hanson were pronounced dead and the others admitted for treatment.