Nearly three weeks after a 16-year-old Marigot teen was charged with the murder of a Chinese national, the High Court today (March 21, 2022) granted him bail in the sum of $150,000.00.
The juvenile is accused of killing Chinese businessman Zhang Zhaopeng between February 22 and 23, in Marigot, contrary to law.
On February 22, videos surfaced of Zhaopeng in Marigot where he owns a business, with blood gushing from a wound in his head.
Zhaopeng was later transported to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where he succumbed to the injuries the following day.
At the accused’s first court appearance on March 2, 2022, Magistrate Laudat had advised his attorney Gina Abraham-Thomas that bail should be sought at the High Court.
His attorney complied and later put forward the application along with attorney-at-law Wayne Norde.
High Court Judge, Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts admitted the accused to bail by a Magistrate in the sum of $150,000.00 with two (2) sureties each satisfying the means and control test
Additionally, as part of his bail condition, the juvenile is to reside with his father in Marigot, must report to the Marigot Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 6:00 a.m and 7:00 p.m. and must also surrender his travel documents to the Magistrate’s Court.
Also, he is prohibited from leaving the state without first applying for and obtaining the permission of the High Court and shall refrain from interfering with all witnesses in the matter.
Breach of any of the above conditions by the accused shall result in the revocation of his bail.
The accused is expected to return to court on June 22, 2022, in Marigot for the start of Preliminary Inquiry (PI).
Since the accused is a juvenile, he will be entitled to a confidential trial at the juveniles court hence, his name has been withheld in this report.
I haven’t heard, read nor seen the incontrovertible evidence against the young man. I will withhold any judgment on his guilt or innocence until the account from eyewitnesses comes to light of what transpired on that fateful day.
I’m happy that the judge chose to grant the juvenile bail. If the evidence of murder is compelling against him then he will have to be given some sort of punishment. if this happens, during his time of incarceration, the state should use their resources to try and rehabilitate him. If the evidence proves it was done in self-defense then he should be reintegrated into society to fulfil his God-given potential.
Sympathy to the Chinese family of the victim. His life was sacred like everyone else regardless of race, ethinicity, creed, nationality or social status.
They should just dismiss that case period. The boy is only 16 and has only seen criminal activities from our leaders all of his life and, we don’t really prosecute soldiers for killing on the battle field. The fact of the matter is our forefathers had to kill some so that our country could be freed. Roosevelt went to China and brought down Chinese to take our damn country from us and sooner than later some of us are going to have to fight and get killed to set our country free from the hands of these Chinese that Skerrit brought down on us while he gave his children American citizenship so they could run. So if we start to get rid of the poisonous virus now, by all means available to us until we get them frustrated and leave prematurely, we will be doing ourselves favor. You remember the words of Roosevelt Skerrit during a DLP meeting in Wesley during the 2014 election? “ If you vote Lennox Linton and the UWP the blood of Dominica will be on you”. He knows what he has in store for us
Yep yep yep…we have to push back these invaders. Dominica is too small for that. Tell the Chinese to go to Ukraine and take their baby Skeritt with them. The resistance is on.
Alah, only 16 yrs old. How long since Skerrit has been PM again? All poor child has seen or known is crime so sad boy. I feel sorry for those young boys especially that are growing up because they were not fortunate to see leaders that demonstrated the importance of hard work if they want to earn a living. All they’re seeing is a culture lying, stealing and commit any crime necessary to hide from justice. What a dark period boy
I want to hear and see the evidence the police has on this one. Hmmmm
They will tired embarass themselves