One of six men, charged with murdering a Chinese businessman during a botched robbery in Barataria three years ago, has been granted bail.
Kenneth Dabreo, 30, of Belmont, was granted $600,000 bail by High Court Judge Nalini Singh on Thursday.
Dabreo; Malik Jack, 21, of Morvant; Linton Williams, 24, of Laventille; Emmanuel Phillip, 28, of Morvant; and Venezuelan nationals Hudson “Hugo” Phillip (no relation) and Oswaldo Marano, who reside in Morvant and Laventille, were charged with murdering Ziangong Phang on August 23, 2020.
They are accused of killing the 42-year-old businessman after they and two women allegedly broke into Happiness Supermarket, located at the corner of the Eastern Main Road and Sixth Avenue in Barataria, and attempted to rob Phang and six of his relatives, who live upstairs the business.
Phang and his relatives fought back against the knife and cutlass-wielding intruders and when police officers arrived on the scene, almost all the intruders and victims had to be taken for medical treatment.
Phang died while receiving treatment, while the others with less life-threatening injuries were treated and discharged.
Some of the accused men were seen wearing bandages and casts on their hands and arms when they first appeared in court days after the incident and were all remanded into custody.
The two female suspects, who were allegedly arrested near the scene, were released after their lawyer Alexia Romero sent a pre-action protocol letter to then police commissioner Gary Griffith over their protracted detention without being charged.
Guardian Media understands that Dabreo is the first of the accused to apply for bail pending trial.
As part of the conditions of his bail, Justice Singh ordered that he surrender his passport and report to the nearest police station three times weekly until his case is determined,
Dabreo was represented by Taradath Singh.
