The court has set a strict 6:00 pm Friday deadline for police to either charge or release podcaster Jhaedee “Jaii Frais” Richards and music producer Jahvel “Jahvy Ambassador” Morrison, both of whom remain in custody over Sunday night’s shooting at a carnival after-party in St Andrew.
The order followed separate habeas corpus applications brought before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, as attorneys challenged the continued detention of both men without formal charges.
In Richards’ case, the application was made by attorney Isat Buchanan, who argued that the legal window for holding his client without charge had expired. Justice Alicia McIntosh ultimately directed that Richards must be formally charged or released by Friday evening.
Buchanan said the court also revisited earlier concerns about Richards’ condition after he was shot during the incident. He noted that a prior directive for the podcaster to receive medical attention was not immediately carried out, though he confirmed that Richards has since been taken to the hospital for treatment while still under police guard.
Richards has been in custody since the violent outbreak at the Big Wall event held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, which left three people injured, including a United States visitor and a member of dancehall artiste 450’s entourage. One of the victims was critically wounded but survived.
At the same time, Morrison, who is also being held in relation to the same incident, secured a similar outcome in court. Represented by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, his legal team successfully obtained an order requiring police to make a decision on his status by the same 6:00 pm deadline.
Both men are understood to be central figures in the ongoing investigation, which stems from a chaotic altercation that escalated into gunfire during the packed event.
Police say the matter remains under active investigation, with multiple statements still being collected.
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