Murder accused Jason Millette granted bail on second try

Jason Millette of Donovans has been granted bail in the sum of $200,000 with a $30,000 cash component.

This is his second time applying for his temporary release having been denied in 2020 while being represented by Attorney Michael Archibald.

Now being represented by Attorney Andrew O’kola, bail was offered due to a change in circumstances.

Jason Millette and Shalom Bailey are waiting to be retried for the murder of 20-year-old Xavier Thomas.

They were jointly charged alongside Dorian Marshall but a jury found Marshall guilty of the crime in a trial in 2019 but were undecided in the case of the other two men.

Thomas was shot and killed when the occupants of a vehicle opened fire on a restaurant in Cedar Grove where she and others had gathered on the night of August 18, 2017.

The court noted that COVID-19 continues to affect Antigua and Barbuda and that the prison is overcrowded. In addition, the fact that trials could not have been heard last year.

O’kola also argued that his client is not a flight risk, is able to sign at a police station every day if needs be, his passport is already in the possession of the Court, he has strong family ties in the community, the case against him is tenuous and rests on the testimony of one individual and that there is no forensic evidence linking the Applicant to the shooting.

In considering that along with the nature of the allegations against Millette the Judge granted the application.

Other conditions of bail include that Millette must Report to and sign in at the Grays Farm Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, commencing on January 29, 2021 and must reside in his mother’s home in Donavans.

Meanwhile, Millette’s lawyer raised the issue of disclosure stating that some pieces of information is being withheld by the crown.

The Crown in their response indicated that the evidence of the car was neither here nor there.

In addition, the defense mentioned that the defendant in his affidavit alluded to the statements taken from three persons which had not been disclosed by the Crown and which he says would have assisted at his trial.

The defense is adamant that disclosure must be given in full and in a timely manner.

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