Aug. 10, 2007 — A St. John man arrested early Thursday evening for the June 19 murder of James "Jamie" Cockayne will remain in jail until a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for the end of next week.
St. Croix native Anselmo Boston, 31, was advised of his rights in V.I. Superior Court Friday on charges of first-degree murder and assault, along with the charge of using a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime. Police picked Boston up around 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening as he attempted to leave the territory en route to Antigua.
Superior Court Brenda J. Hollar, who presided over Friday's hearing, executed a no-bail warrant for Boston's arrest Aug. 1. The warrant was executed under seal, since increased media attention into the case had caused several witnesses to "fear for their lives,” court documents say.
During Friday's hearing, prosecuting attorney Renee Gumbs Carty said she had filed a motion that morning in an attempt to detain Boston pending trial on the charges. Giving the defense some time to look over the document, Hollar scheduled a pre-trial detention hearing for 9 a.m. next Friday.
The motion describes Boston — who has been listed in court documents as having been involved in an argument with Cockayne on the night of the killing — as a flight risk and danger to the community.
"Anselmo Boston was about to flee to Antigua to avoid facing charges here," the motion says, adding that there is no way to ensure that Boston will show up for trial if he is released on bail.
Witnesses quoted in a police affidavit say they saw Boston "cursing at" Cockayne at the Front Yard Bar in Cruz Bay for having kicked his girlfriend's jeep. After Cockayne left the bar, Boston allegedly followed him with another suspect, 18-year-old Kamal Thomas, in tow.
Thomas, who was arrested last Friday, also faces first-degree murder, assault and weapons charges.
"Witnesses observed Boston and Thomas chasing James Cockayne up the street, carrying pieces of wood," the motion says. "Several witnesses tried to stop the assailants, but Boston and Thomas chased James Cockayne into an isolated location. Shortly thereafter, the assailants emerged from the location and fled the area."
The motion adds that Cockayne subsequently emerged, "bleeding to death" from several stab wounds to the body.
Boston's attempt to leave the territory, his pursuit of Cockayne after the argument at the bar and the nature of the charges against him makes him eligible to be held without bail pending trial, the motion says, citing a decision Hollar made in the case against former Police Detective Joel Dowdye.
In the Dowdye case, Hollar said she drew from provisions in the Revised Organic Act, which provides for a defendant accused of first-degree murder to be detained if the prosecution is able to provide "clear and convincing evidence" that the individual is a risk of flight or danger to the community.
During Thomas' advice-of-rights hearing, however, Superior Court Judge Leon H. Kendall said Hollar's decision is not applicable to the case, which would take its precedence from decisions rendered by the federal District Court or the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
During a hearing Thursday, Kendall set Thomas' bail at $75,000, but said he could be released if he is able to post 10 percent, or $7,500. (See "Kendall Sets House Arrest for Cockayne Suspect Pending $7,500 Bond Posting.")
In a statement taken from police after the incident, Boston admits to having a verbal confrontation with a "white guy" who had "kicked his jeep" earlier that evening. Boston added that he hit Cockayne in the shoulder and neck with a pool stick, but did not follow when Cockayne left the bar.
Boston will be arraigned on the charges during a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday.
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