By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 23-year-old man has been granted $15,000 bail for armed robbery, despite already being on bail for a murder charge and having served time for a prior conviction.

Antonio Paul was granted bail for armed robbery and receiving by Justice Neil Braithwaite.

Paul and two alleged accomplices are accused of robbing Obiecheryl Bowe at gunpoint of her boyfriend’s red 2012 Nissan Note on January 26, 2022, while she and her children were getting food.

A witness reported seeing Paul on January 30, 2022, in possession of one of the complainant’s son’s phones, which had been left in the vehicle. The witness said Paul attempted to unlock the device. Paul admitted having the phone but claimed he received it from a friend.

During his bail application, Paul acknowledged a prior armed robbery conviction and confirmed he is facing pending charges for murder and conspiracy to commit murder, for which he said he had already been granted bail. He claimed his murder trial was set for 2027.

However, prosecutors contested this, saying that his murder trial is scheduled for June 2026, with the armed robbery trial to begin in April 2026. Given the upcoming trial dates, the prosecution argued that his continued detention was reasonable.

Paul has been on remand since February 2022, although prosecutors clarified that he has only been detained for this particular offence since October 2023, due to serving a previous sentence. He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2022 for a separate robbery conviction.

Paul denied the current armed robbery allegations and said his imprisonment has caused hardship for his family, including his daughter. He argued that he has not breached any bail conditions in his other pending cases and is a suitable candidate for bail.

Justice Braithwaite, while recognising Paul’s criminal record, the seriousness of the charges, and the risk of reoffending, ruled that conditions could be imposed to secure his appearance at trial.

Bail was set at $15,000 with one to three sureties. Paul must wear an electronic monitoring device and adhere to a daily curfew from 8pm to 6am He is also required to report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by 6pm. He was warned not to contact the complainant or any witnesses in the case.

Failure to comply with these conditions could result in the revocation of his bail.

Paul was represented by Stanley Rolle. Prosecutors Jacklyn Burrows and Calnan Kelly appeared for the Crown.