MONTEGO Bay, St James — The case against Akeem Burnett, who allegedly used a gun to commit murder while on bail for a firearm-related matter, has been transferred to the St James Circuit Court.

When the matter came before the St James Parish Court on Monday, Burnett’s lawyer Chumu Paris indicated that he had no further submissions to make, but emphasised that the central concern revolves around identification.

“It appears that similar clothing was being worn by Mr Burnett as his [deceased] assailants; but on the face of it, the eyewitness says that she saw him. So at this stage, I don’t think I can successfully defend the case,” Paris said.

Trial judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, like Paris, stated that the case is one of identification. She highlighted that the key focus of the committal proceedings is the testimony of the main witness who claims to have seen Burnett.

“Those issues can be ventilated at trial,” the judge said.

Grant-Pryce subsequently transferred the case to the St James Circuit Court for mention on October 2 and remanded Burnett in police custody.

The matter in the Gun Court will be mentioned on June 6.

Burnett, a St James resident, is accused of killing Nelson Hayles.

According to the allegations, around 9:00 am on October 24, 2024, Hayles, along with his common-law wife and another man, travelled to Campbell’s Lane in St James. Soon after, a group of five armed men arrived in a vehicle and positioned themselves at a nearby residence. They then advanced towards the house where Hayles was and opened fire.

The reports are that Hayles sustained gunshot wounds to his upper body. The armed men also fired at the second man, who fled unharmed, as did the woman.

After that, the five men allegedly went to a nearby house and opened fire but no one was harmed.

It is said that the men then left the location and proceeded to Katon Lane, where a team of soldiers was on duty. A shootout allegedly ensued between the soldiers and the five men. The allegations are that Burnett was pursued to a house where the soldiers managed to capture him and took a firearm from him.

The police were summoned and, in the company of the soldiers, they went to the residence where Hayles’ body was discovered.

Two witnesses on the scene identified Burnett as one of the five shooters. He was subsequently arrested and charged.