Murder suspect remanded to HMP Northward

Cayman News | 30/01/2015 | 0 Comments

Justin Manderson

(CNS): The 22-year-old West Bay man charged with the murder of Victor Oliver Yates and possession of an unlicensed firearm appeared in Summary Court on Friday and was remanded in custody until 13 February. Justin Manderson said very little during the brief appearance in the court as his case was formally transmitted to the Grand Court. Prathna Bodden from Samson McGrath, who was representing Manderson, made no application for bail on her client’s behalf as she said she had not yet seen the charge sheet.

Dressed in a brightly checked shirt and faded jeans, Manderson nodded and stated, “Yes ma’am,” as his case was formally transmitted by Magistrate Kirstyann Gunn to the higher court and he was remanded to HMP Northward until that appearance.

No details of the evidence against Manderson were revealed but he is alleged to have been the gunman that opened fire on Yates outside Super C’s bar and restaurant on Watercourse Road in the early hours of 3 January. He was arrested on Thursday 29January in a pre-dawn raid in West Bay.

Manderson was shot in the wrist by another gunman just two days later outside the Pop-a-Top liquor store in West Bay. Although one person was arrested in the immediate wake of that shooting, police have not charged anyone in connection with the incident.

Police will now be turning their attention to the murder of David Ebanks, who police believe was the innocent victim in last Friday’s shooting. The commissioner stated this week that the gunman was aiming for a man police believe to be an active gang member who was also in the location of Undra’s Jerk Stand at the time Ebanks was killed.