MONTEGO BAY, St James — A murder suspect who was arrested as he attempted to board a flight was denied bail when he appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday. The ruling came despite his attorney’s argument that his client was merely on a shopping trip when he was held.

Adam Carey, otherwise called Chin-Chin, of Rosemount, St James, is accused of murdering 46-year-old Christopher Clarke, otherwise called Ally, a labourer of Birch Hill in Salt Spring. The court heard that last December, Carey allegedly stabbed Clarke on the Salt Spring main road. Clarke reportedly attempted to drive himself to hospital but lost consciousness along the way. His vehicle subsequently hit an embankment and overturned. Police were summoned and Clarke was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Carey was arrested at the airport on March 5 while attempting to board a flight to Panama. He was subsequently handed over to police, gave a caution statement, and was formally charged after an interview. On Wednesday he appeared before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton at which time his attorney, Chumu Paris, made a bail application on his behalf.

During his submission Paris told the court that Carey was travelling to Panama to purchase clothes, arguing that his intended travel indicated he planned to return to the island.

“In this set of circumstances there is nothing to suggest that he would not return,” the attorney submitted.

However, the judge refused the application and Carey was remanded in custody until his next court date on June 3.

According to the defence attorney, murder accused Adam Carey was travelling to Panama to purchase clothes, not attempting to flee the island, when he was arrested by the cops.