St Catherine man charged with murder of cousin granted $650,000 bail

St Catherine resident Joel Needham, who is charged with the 2021 murder of his cousin, was granted $650,000 bail with surety when he appeared in the parish court today.

Needham is charged for the death of Joel Walker, a labourer of Golden Grove district in Guys Hill in the parish.

When the matter was called up, Parish Court Judge Geneta Smikle was informed that the scene of crime report and other statements were not on file.

Attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan then applied for bail for his client, arguing that the case was of some “vintage", suggesting that a lot of time has passed, and that that's why the file was incomplete.

In being offered bail, Needham was ordered to report to the Ewarton police on Mondays and Saturdays and to submit his fingerprints

He was ordered to return to court on May 30, when the matter will again be mentioned.

Allegations are that on September 15, 2021, Walker and a family member were engaged in an altercation over apples.

Needham intervened and reportedly used a Toyota Probox motor car to hit Walker, who suffered injuries.

He was assisted to the Linstead Hospital, where Walker succumbed.

An investigation was launched by the St Catherine North police.

Needham was subsequently arrest and later charged with murder on April 13,2025.

- Rasbert Turner

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