Driver in fatal police shooting granted bail

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A labourer of a York Town address, Clarendon, was on Thursday offered bail in the sum of 400,000 when he appeared in the May Pen Parish Court on gun-related charges.He is 34- year- old Hartley Blake.Allegations are that about 8:55 pm on March 6, Blake was driving a Honda motor car on the Comfort main road in Clarendon with three male passengers aboard, when they opened fire on lawmen when the car was signaled to stop at a checkpoint.The police say they returned the fire.At the end of the alleged gun battle, three people from the car were found suffering from gunshot wounds.The trio--- Michael Pinnock, Dean Williams and Roshene Lynch were taken to the May Pen Hospital where they were pronounced dead.According to the police, Blake, who fled the scene, subsequently turned up at the same hospital suffering from gunshot wounds.He was subsequently charged with possession of prohibited weapon, ammunition and shooting with intent.In making an application for bail Thursday, Blake’s attorney, King’s Counsel, Peter Champagnie, pointed out that it was no less than 12 policemen who were engaged in the shootout, adding that they had discharged at least 50 rounds of ammunition from their weapons in the direction of where it was said that the men exited the Honda motor car.Champagnie also pointed out to the court that all the gunshot injuries sustained by Blake were to his back.When arrested and charged, Blake denied having any firearm or being in any shootout with the police.The police claimed that they had seized two firearms. Champagnie also highlighted that since the incident his client has been hospitalised and requires additional medical care to stabilise his condition.After hearing the application for bail, the senior Parish Judge Dahlia Findley offered Blake bail with stringent reporting conditions.He is set to reappear in court on September 21.