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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Stephen Fray, the 21-year-old Montego Bay man who held up a chartered flight destined for Halifax, Canada at the Sangster International airport on April 19, was remanded in custody pending a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation, which was ordered by Justice Bertram Morrison at the request of Fray's lawyers George and Martyn Thomas who did not seek bail, was the first official indication that the defence would argue that Fray did not know what he was doing when he committed the offence.
He has been charged with nine counts of illegal possession of a firearm; eight counts of assault at common law; two counts of illegal possession of ammunition; one count of shooting with intent; one count of robbery with aggravation; one count in relation to a breach of the Civil Aviation Act; one count in relation to a breach of the Airports Authority Act; and one count of assaulting a female.
Fray embarrassed Jamaica on April 19 when he barged past security at the Sangster International Airport and boarded CanJet 918 which was bound for Cuban en route to Halifax, Canada. Demanding to be flown out of the country, he was subsequently disarmed as negotiations broke down. Neither crew nor passengers were hurt in the incident which raised several questions concerning the integrity of the airport's security. He is to return to the Western Regional Gun Court and the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on May 18 when - depending on the outcome of the evaluation - a determination concerning his fitness to stand trial for the 24 charges against him is expected.
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