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Cockayne Murder Suspects Plead Not Guilty

Aug. 16, 2007 — Three suspects arrested in connection with the June 19 stabbing death of St. John resident James "Jamie" Cockayne pleaded not guilty to all charges during a hearing Thursday in V.I. Superior Court.
Two of the suspects — 18-year-old Kamal Thomas and 31-year-old Anselmo Boston — are charged with first-degree murder and assault, along with using a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime. Thomas, arrested almost two weeks ago, is also charged with intimidating a witness.
Both Thomas and Boston were involved in an argument with Cockayne at the Front Yard Bar in Cruz Bay on the night of the killing, according to witnesses quoted in a police affidavit.
Boston admitted to having a verbal confrontation with "a white guy" who had "kicked his jeep" earlier that evening, according to a a statement obtained by police after the incident. Boston added that he hit Cockayne in the shoulder and neck with a pool stick, but did not follow when Cockayne left the bar a little later.
A pre-trial detention hearing, which will determine whether Boston will be detained pending trial on the charges, is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.
Thomas also admitted to having an argument with Cockayne at the bar, according to a separate statement taken by police. After the bartender threw them out, Thomas said he, Boston and another individual chased Cockayne "up the hill."
"Mr. Thomas said when they got by the white kid, there was a lady blowing her horn as if she were alerting the police, which caused them to stop from going to beat the white boy," court documents say.
Superior Court Judge Leon H. Kendall set a $7,5000 bail for Thomas on the first-degree weapons, murder and assault charges during a recent advice-of-rights hearing. For the charge of intimidating a witness, Kendall held Thomas on a $25,000 surety bond.
Thomas has not yet posted bail, said his defense attorney, Simon Joseph, on Thursday.
The third suspect, 31-year-old Ryan Meade, also pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charge of intimidating a witness. Meade, who has been released on bail, has not been accused of the actual murder. (See "Second Cockayne Suspect Charged with Witness Intimidation.")
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