Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A man charged with the murder of his father was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Negarsh Dawkins, 18-year-old labourer of Old Harbour Road, Spanish Town, St Catherine, is charged with the murder of his father, Gary Dawkins, 42-year-old cabinetmaker/driver of Old Harbour Road, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

When the matter was mentioned before Resident Magistrate Llyle Armstrong, a successful bail application was made by attorney-at-Law Sean Kinghorn. He told the court that it was a regrettable act for which his client is charged. He said it is for this reason why the accused volunteered and wrote a statement telling the police what happened.

Kinghorn said the deceased haunted the family before the incident even after he was separated from the accused mother with whom he had fathered three children.

Kinghorn showed the court a death threat allegedly made by the elder Dawkins.

The lawyer said there was a clear issue of self-defence in the case.

Clerk of Court Nicole Kellier told the court that the accused needed an alternative address for his own safety.

Bail was granted by the RM on condition that he surrenders his travel documents and reports to the Portmore police twice weekly.

Allegations are that on February 8, about 4 a.m., the elder Dawkins went to the home of the accused man's mother.

While there, it is reported that the elder Dawkins had an altercation with the man's mother after stating that he wanted their three-year-old child.

The mother allegedly refused and the elder Dawkins reportedly grabbed the child and ran. He was allegedly chased by the accused who hit him repeatedly. The man was taken to hospital where he later died.

He reportedly gave a caution statement saying he hit his father repeatedly.

Kellier said in addition to the accused statement, there is also another statement from a relative of the deceased.

Dawkins is to return to court on June 9 when the matter will again be mentioned.