By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 17-year-old boy was granted $15,000 bail after he was accused of a fatal stabbing in Grand Bahama earlier this year.

The juvenile, whose name is being withheld, was granted bail by Justice Andrew Forbes.

Under his bail conditions, he will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and must sign in at the Central Police Station in Freeport every Monday and Friday by 7pm.

He was placed on a residential curfew from 10pm to 5am and ordered not to leave Grand Bahama without court approval.

He was also warned not to interfere with any witnesses. Any breach of these conditions would result in his bail being revoked.

Prosecutor Sean Smith had previously objected to the boy’s bail application, arguing he posed a risk of reoffending since he was already on bail for a serious offence at the time of the alleged stabbing.

Mr Smith argued that the evidence against the teen was strong and that he was not a suitable candidate for bail.

Prosecutors claimed the boy admitted in a police interview to stabbing the victim. They also alleged that a witness — the defendant’s cousin — saw him stab the deceased in the abdomen after the two became involved in a fight. They claimed the relative picked up the knife after the incident.

The defendant denied the offence. He told the court he had not breached any previous bail conditions, would comply with all restrictions imposed, did not pose a flight risk and would not interfere with witnesses.

In granting bail, Justice Forbes noted that prosecutors had provided no evidence to show the boy would not appear for trial.

Ernie Wallace represented the accused.