Women on murder rap denied bail


Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter


Three women accused of murder were again denied bail when they appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.


Charged with murder and conspiracy to murder are 41-year-old Stephanie Hall-Beckford, Garfiesha Smith, 21, and Vanique Smith, 22, of Kingston 10 addresses.


It is alleged that on April 23 at approximately 5 p.m., the accused women were involved in a dispute with another woman. It is believed that the police went to the location to quell the matter, but the woman was overpowered by the group. She was reportedly stabbed several times in full view of police personnel.


The mother of the deceased and her sister, seated in the gallery, beckoned to the presiding magistrate, requesting permission to speak. Upon approval, the sister of the deceased revealed that the accused women killed her sister in front of their mother, seemingly highlighting how truly heinous the act was.


Rejecting a request for bail by Vanique Smith's attorney, who claimed she was not involved in the act, Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey responded: "At the time when the deceased was murdered, the police were on the spot yu nuh? So these people were out of control. At that time when the police were present, the woman was killed in her mother's arms!"


Subsequently, the accused women were further remanded until July 3 when they are scheduled to reappear in court.



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