Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A man, who allegedly beat and ordered the shooting of a man who failed to confess to the theft of a piece of jewellery, was remanded when he appeared in court yesterday.

Fitzroy 'Scuffla' Mathias of Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine, appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer to charges of illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent. He pleaded not guilty. A bail application by his lawyer Sean Kinghorn was not entertained.

Kinghorn told the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court his client had not shot anyone and that he was not present during the incident and has a solid alibi.

The court ordered that the accused be remanded until August 31, when the matter would mentioned in the Gun Court.

Allegations before the court are that on August 6, the complainant was reportedly accused of stealing a piece of jewellery from a 'don's' girlfriend.

He was reportedly accosted by Mathias and after he was beaten he was subsequently shot twice.

A report was subsequently made and an investigation resulted in Mathias being charged.