KINGSTON, Jamaica — The police have been given a deadline to either charge or release podcaster Jhaedee “Jaii Frais” Richards by 6:00 pm on Friday, following an incident that left him and two others nursing gunshot wounds after a carnival event on Sunday night in St Andrew.

Justice Alicia McIntosh issued the ruling after an application for habeas corpus was filed on behalf of Richards in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The podcaster, who is represented by attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan, has been under police detention since the shooting incident.

Speaking with Observer Online on Friday, Buchanan shared, “An application was made today before Judge McIntosh for the habeas corpus. The judge has ordered that Mr Richards be charged or released by 6:00 pm today. So we’re just awaiting the time to see what the officer is going to do.”

He noted that the judge order on Wednesday that Richards be taken to the hospital for medical attention had not be followed.

“An order was made on Wednesday for Mr Richards to be taken for medical attention. That was not done. So when the application was made, the judge made inquiries and we were told that he’s now at the hospital,” Buchanan added.

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He said his client is still awaiting a question-and-answer session as the investigation continues.

“The police, they are doing their duties diligently. They’re being very cautious so as not to breach anybody’s constitutional rights, which is the correct procedure,” Buchanan said. “We do understand, but at the same time, delay is not a feature when a man is injured and so we have to do what we have to do on this side and we will wait around for any indication of the question and answer.”

The incident, which occurred at the Big Wall after carnival party, saw three people injured, including Richards and a United States citizen. One of the victims, who was a member of dancehall artiste 450’s entourage, was critically wounded but survived the attack.

Jahvel “Jahvy Ambassador” Morrison, a music producer and manager, was also detained by the police in relation to the shooting. Morrison is represented by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie.

— Carlysia Ramdeen

(Video: Llewellyn Wynter)