KINGSTOWN – A 45-year-old prison officer was denied bail on Friday when he appeared before the Serious Offences Court on two charges related to the escape of a 32-year-old man awaiting trial for the 2015 murder of a 33-year-old real estate agent.
Louie Cupid, who has 12 years service, pleaded not guilty to a charge that between September 29 and October 2 this year, he assisted Veron Primus, who had been charged in connection with the murder of Sharlene Greaves, in escaping from Her Majesty’s Prisons in the capital.
Primus, who has also been indicted in the United States – where he lived for almost two decades – in connection with the 2006 murder of 16 year-old Chanel Petro-Nixon in Brooklyn, New York, turned himself in to law enforcement authorities on Thursday.
Cupid also pleaded not guilty to a charge that between September 24 and October 2 2019, he agreed with Primus on a course of action that, would amount to the offence of escaping lawful custody by the parties to the agreement.
The prosecution, led by Adolphus Delplesche, objected to bail telling Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne that the investigations concern national security and were ongoing.
Delplesche said the investigators feared that if granted bail, Cupid would hinder the progress of the investigation and urged the court to grant more time so that the investigators “can turn over every stone, every Ju-c cork, every nail that they may have to in these investigations.
“That is all I am asking for,” Delplesche told the court.
Attorney, Grant Connell, who is one of two lawyers representing, Cupid, said he must draw to the attention of the court that when someone is charged, it is understood that there is sufficient evidence to bring a charge before the court.
He said such a person is innocent until proven guilty, adding “it is not the French law we are practising”.
He said he was unaware of the scope of the investigators work, noting “what I do know are the charges that are before this court,” that hinge on Primus’ escape from lawful custody.
He said following the incident, four officers were taken into custody, three released, and one charged.
“I can’t see, at this juncture, what more investigation the prosecution could possibly be taking about. That is a fishing expedition at best. We are here for bail,” Connell said, adding that his client has sufficient ties to the jurisdiction.
But the Chief Magistrate said after considering the nature the charges and the representation by prosecution and defence, she was denying bail because of the serious nature of the charges.
She said she would review the bail application on October 11. (CMC)