March 6, 2008 — A St. Thomas man accused of first degree murder in connection with the killing of Police Officer Ariel Frett in February 2007 has been rearrested on further charges.
On top of the original charge, Jermaine Paris was arrested this week for second degree murder, unauthorized use of a firearm during a second degree murder, aiding and abetting, and carrying an unlicensed firearm during the commission of a crime.
Paris, a resident of Dronningens Gade , was arrested Saturday on unrelated charges after a struggle with another man at 12:50 a.m. near the Static Night Club led to police busting Paris for having an illegal firearm.
It is not yet known if Saturday’s arrest was connected to additional charges being filed against Paris in the Frett murder.
Less than a week after Frett’s murder, Paris turned himself into police, who had launched an major manhunt for him. During his advice of rights hearing, V.I. Superior Court Judge Brenda Hollar upheld the original first degree murder charge, along with several other charges and set bail at $500,000.
Judge Leon Kendall later reduced the bail to $30,000 and released the 25-year-old Paris to his mother’s custody, according to a source within the Attorney General’s Office.
Terms of his pre-trial release demanded that Paris not break any laws, including possession of a firearm.
During a detention hearing in Superior Court on St. Thomas Wednesday, Hollar set Paris' bail at $75,000 for Saturday's possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Unable to post bail, Paris remains in custody.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
