Jahmel Blakeney extradited to face trial
A man accused of double attempted murder returned to Bermuda last night under armed escort.Jahmel Blakeney, 29, has been fighting his extradition back to the Island on charges of shooting Shaki Minors and his pregnant girlfriend outside Southside Cinema late on November 12 2009. Last night he returned on the American Airlines flight from New York.Yesterday, before Mr Blakeney’s arrival, prosecutor Robert Welling told Supreme Court: “Mr Blakeney has exhausted all avenues of appeal and the officer in the case is in the States today hoping to secure his presence on a flight to Bermuda this evening.”He said that Mr Blakeney is due to appear in Magistrates’ Court on Monday, to face the charges in person.Mr Blakeney, son of Minister of Youth, Families and Community Development Glenn Blakeney, was arrested along with another man, Sanchey Grant, 19, from Warwick, the day after the shooting. He fled to the US, where he has citizenship, after being released on police bail. He was charged in his absence on April 26, 2010 and arrested by US Marshals at a residence in Brooklyn, New York on June 10.Extradition proceedings against him were commenced by the Bermuda Government, but have been delayed due to various appeals launched by Mr Blakeney in the US courts.Meanwhile Mr Grant was charged at Magistrates’ Court on April 22, 2010 with the same charges of attempted murder. A third man, 25-year-old Kinte Smith, was charged on April 14 2011.Mr Welling revealed yesterday morning that Mr Smith left Bermuda two days after the shooting and went to Canada. He was brought back to Bermuda on March 9, having been deported from Canada.Mr Welling also told the court: “There is a further suspect in this case, who at that stage I will not name. He is not in the jurisdiction. Evidence of his involvement only came to light recently. Extradition proceedings have not yet begun.”Mr Welling was addressing the court during the monthly arraignments session in relation to Mr Grant. He has been in custody on remand since he was charged in April 2010. The attempted murder trial was due to begin at Supreme Court on April 18.Mr Welling asked yesterday that the trial be delayed until Mr Grant can stand trial alongside Mr Blakeney and Mr Smith.Mr Grant’s lawyer, Craig Attridge, said it was unfair and against his constitutional rights to keep him locked up and awaiting a trial any longer.He asked Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves to bail Mr Grant if proceedings are going to be delayed any longer.However, Mr Justice Greaves said the delay was not unreasonable in the circumstances, and refused to bail Mr Grant.He vacated the trial date of April 18 and the case will be mentioned again at the Supreme Court arraignments session on May 2.