St Mary farmer charged in fatal apple picking shooting gets $300,000 bail

Bail in the sum of $300,000 with sureties was offered yesterday to 36-year-old Rayon McNish, a farmer of Bellfield, St Mary, who is charged with the murder of 22-year-old Rayon Prendergast.

Prendergast was fatally shot on February 8 on the accused's farm while he was allegedly stealing bags of apples.

It was reported that McNish told the police that he was afraid of the deceased who threatened him and was a known terrorist in the area.

Prendergast was in the presence of another man and McNish claimed that the deceased was the one who confronted him.

After the incident, it is alleged that the accused took the police to where he had placed the gun and handed it over.

Attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman, who is representing McNish, in making the bail application said the accused was not a flight risk.

Wildman submitted that the accused honestly believed that the deceased was a threat to him and his family and that was the reason he got the gun.

He argued that the question of honest belief that the accused's life was in danger will be a live issue at the trial before the jury.

He asked the judge to consider that the accused showed the police where he had the gun and handed it over.

In answer to queries from the judge, a policeman who was in court said that the deceased was known to the police as a bad man. 

The policeman said further that the accused was of good character and was not known to be a violent person.

The prosecution had opposed bail.

Attorneys-at-law Anthony Armstrong and Rasher Wildman are also representing McNish.

- Barbara Gayle

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