Murder suspect jailed for unrelated charge

A man arrested, though not charged, in connection with the murder of Sven Connor remains remanded into custody after it was discovered he violated the terms of his bail arrangement for a charge of burglary.

The 27-year-old man of East End, whose identity police have not released, was arrested on 9 Dec., on suspicion of murdering Connor, who had been shot multiple times two days earlier.

Although the suspect was arrested for murder, he has not been formally charged with that offence.

As per section 65 of the Cayman Islands Bail Act, an individual may be detained for a maximum of 48 hours, in most circumstances. The law also allows for an extension to that timeline, but it must be authorised by a magistrate.

Where no charges are filed by the time the deadline expires, police are required to release the suspect on bail, as was the case with the 27-year-old man.

Although the suspect was granted bail following his arrest on suspicion of murder, he was not released. Instead, he was swiftly re-arrested.

“The man was returned to (and) remains in custody at HMP Northward in relation to a separate offence of burglary and having breached his bail conditions,” said the RCIPS media office.

Four murders in 2023

Connor was the fourth person to be murdered in Cayman this year.

In May, Randy Robinson was stabbed to death following a violent early morning assault at Carib Café off Shedden Road in George Town. Shaun Antonio Jackson was convicted of murdering Robinson.

On 8 July, Omar Ryan was run over by a vehicle and killed following a heated dispute, off Robert Foster Drive in George Town. Bruce Welcome was charged with Ryan’s murder. His trial is set for the first quarter of 2024.

Divonte Hernandez was shot dead on 29 Sept. George Senior and Sean Austin Conolly Amaya have both been arrested and charged with Hernandez’s murder. A third man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder but not charged.