Former murder accused Akili Charles, has been shot dead. It was Charles’ lawsuit against the State which resulted in a historic ruling by the Privy Council last week, that people charged with murder can apply for bail.
According to police reports, at around 10 p.m., on Saturday, Charles was at his Covigne Road, Diego Martin, home when he was fatally shot.
In 2019, Charles was freed by Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle after she agreed that the State did not provide sufficient evidence during the preliminary enquiry for Charles to face trial at the High Court.
Charles’ attorneys led by Anand Ramlogan later brought a constitutional claim against the State arguing that it was unlawful for a murder accused to automatically be denied bail.
That claim was dismissed but the judgement was overturned at the Appeal Court by a three-judge panel which included Chief Justice Ivor Archie.
The Office of the Attorney General later appealed the ruling at the Privy Council and last Thursday, five law lords upheld the High Court’s ruling making it law for anyone charged with murder to apply for bail.