Lettsome denied bail in attempted murder charge

Wakima Lettsome makes his way inside the Magistrate’s Court on Monday November 28. (Photo: Fareeza Haniff).

Despite putting up a tough verbal fight for bail to be granted to her client, Magistrate Tamia Richards told Attorney – at – Law Mary Lou Creque that she is not satisfied that the case of attempted murder is one fit for bail to be granted to her client, Wakima Lettsome.

As such, he was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison until January 11, when he will make another court appearance.

The 30 – year – old BVIslander, who is also a father of three, was charged with the attempted murder of Jonathon Colaire, which allegedly occurred on November 18 in Crab Lot area, known as the ghetto.

Lettsome was also charged with the offense of inflicting grievous bodily harm. He was not required to plead to the indictable offenses when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday November 28.

The Magistrate also pointed out that she is not satisfied that the court has sufficient conditions to impose on Lettsome in order to confirm his attendance for trial, if he is granted bail.

The man’s lawyer however is of the opinion that the police have the wrong man in custody. In her bail application, Creque told the court that, “It is very unlikely that they (the police) have the correct man in this case.”

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Valston Graham objected to bail being granted to the accused based on three grounds; the seriousness of the offense, the likelihood of Lettsome absconding and that the attack was an “unprovoked one.” 

The allegations state that sometime after 10:00 pm on November 18, the complainant, Jonathon Colaire was in the Crab Lot area having a conversation with another man when he heard a loud outburst of someone cursing. He looked and recognized the defendant Lettsome as the person, who was cursing at him.

According to the allegations, at the time Lettsome was wearing a white shirt and his hair was plait in cornrows. It is alleged that the complainant has known Lettsome for several years.

Prosecutor Graham told the court that Lettsome then began to threaten the complainant accusing him of “dissing him” (Lettsome) and then threatened to slap him. However, the court heard that Colaire ignored Lettsome and walked away.

Lettsome then allegedly followed him and began pushing him with his hands. The complainant did not retaliate and instead continued walking away from the defendant who continued to pursue him.

The allegations further state that after a few minutes, Lettsome ran out of the Ghetto and returned a few minutes later. This time, the court heard that he was dressed in dark clothing.

It is alleged that he was a few feet away from the complainant when he lifted his hand and shot at the complainant. According to the allegations, after Lettsome shot the complainant, he said, “take that in your mother’s [expletives].” At that stage the complainant felt a pain in his stomach and he ran away, but collapsed at a nearby apartment.

The court heard that the injured man was then assisted by friends and was transported to the Peebles hospital where he underwent surgery. He sustained a gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen.

It was noted that on Thursday November 24, around 12:20 pm, the police carried out investigations into the report, and acting on information, officers travelled to Jose Van Dyke (JVD) where the defendant was arrested and was transported to Road Town Police Station.

Searches were then carried out at Lettsome’s residence and motor vehicle PV24559, and according to police, they retrieved certain items of clothing which were seized for forensic examination.

According to Graham, the complainant is still a patient at the Peebles Hospital and is listed in a stable but serious condition. Meanwhile, in her attempt for bail to be granted, the man’s lawyer told the court that he was picked up in JVD as he was about to have Thanksgiving lunch with his friends.

According to Creque, her client was not aware that the police came for him and was surprised. The Attorney – at – Law said that Lettsome had to ask the police seven times as to why he was being arrested and it was only after he began to “raise his voice” that he was told he is a “person of interest” in the case.

Creque further noted that Lettsome is a regular visitor to the JVD, given the fact that he has close friends living there.