St. Andrew, Jamaica (McN) – The St Andrew Construction Worker accused of murdering his common law wife while she was pregnant was granted bail in the sum of one million Jamaican dollars .
35-year-old Phillip Brown is charged with killing 31-year-old Kerry Ann Wilson, of Crystal Towers.
Allegations are that on December 10, 2016, Wilson’s badly beaten body was found wrapped in a tarpaulin at the Crystal Towers Apartment Complex on Old Hope Road, St Andrew.
It is alleged that Brown confessed to beating to death Wilson, his then common law wife during a dispute when she threatened to end the relationship with brown.
Prosecution opposed the bail application on the grounds of the strength of the evidence in the case, in addition that the deceased was pregnant at the time of the victim’s death, and the fear for witness safety.
Jamaica’s Law Does Not Consider the Death of a Fetus a Crime
Defence Attorney Anthony Williams argued that the death of the foetus was not an offence under the Jamaican law and there was no material before the court as to the basis of the fear. Williams took the stance that under the bail act and the constitution, brown was entitled to bail.
St. Andrew Parish Judge Andrea Pettigrew-Collins, granted Brown bail with sureties, and ordered that he surrender his travel documents to the police.
Judge Pettigrew-Collins also issued a stop order, and a curfew order from 8 P.M to 8 A.M.
Brown is also to report daily to the half way three police station.
He set to return to the St. Andrew Parish Court on February 28.
