Accused Valentine’s Day killer gets bail
A student who is accused of stabbing a man to death during a dispute at a party on Valentine’s Day was this week offered bail in the sum of $300,000 when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.
Nineteen-year-old Jason Fowling, otherwise called Shavi, of Selassie Drive in Kingston, was offered bail by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey on condition that he reports to the Hunts Bay Police Station on Mondays and Thursdays.
The accused is charged with the murder of 31-year-old Omerio Flash, a shopkeeper of Oakland Drive, also in Kingston.
According to the police, on the night in question, about 9:20, Flash was at the birthday party of the accused man’s brother when an altercation developed between him and Fowling.
During the altercation, it is alleged that Fowling used a knife to stab Flash in his chest. The injured man was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Fowling reportedly fled the scene but surrendered to the police on February 16.
According to court documents, an eyewitness claimed that Fowling approached Flash and said, “Whey you a do a me yard!” then started to stab at him.
However, based on police investigations the two men had a previous dispute in 2014, stemming from allegations that Fowling was having an affair with Flash’s female companion.
But, Fowling in a sworn statement said he was first assaulted by the now deceased.
According to Fowling, in his statement, on the night of the incident Flash “threatened him” saying that “mi can’t come inna fe him yard [and] me caah stop him from come a my yard cuz me a no bad man”.
Fowling said that sometime after he was standing at his gate when Flash approached him and kicked him on his foot and he threw some rum on Flash.
Fowling said Flash’s brother pulled a knife, which fell, and he took it up and stabbed Flash.
The accused, who is being represented by attorney Ester Reid, is scheduled to return to court on February 12.