Trio remanded for home invasion

The Hattieville Prison is home to three more inmates tonight after Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie remanded them until October twenty sixth. Twenty four year olds, Lionel Brigal and Pedro Perez and twenty seven year old Jason Malic are charged in connection with an invasion at the home of Dale Perez which occurred on September twentieth. Rhaburn Jones, Carminia Pun and Ashley Thompson were at Perez’ home in Lord’s Bank at around twelve thirty on Independence Eve when they heard a knock on the door. When they did not answer, three men kicked in the door and entered the house. They reportedly ransacked the house, pistol whipped the trio, tied them up and left with money, jewelry and other personal effects. According to police, they went looking for drugs and money. The three men were represented in court by attorney, Dickie Bradley. Brigal was charged with one count of Aggravated Burglary and three counts of Wounding. But he and his partners in crime were jointly charged with Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Burglary. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were denied bail despite Bradley’s arguments that Perez and Malic were charge only with Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Burglary. Bradley argued that the charge is a offense for which bail can be granted but Chief Magistrate McKenzie ruled that in this instance she will deny bail because of the serious nature of the offense. She did advise that when they appear in court on October twenty sixth, bail will be considered. Brigal was automatically remanded because he is the one accused of committing the assault with the firearm. This is not the first time that Brigal has been in the news. In 2008, he was accused of false imprisonment of a Ladyville resident. He and three other Ladyville residents were accused of holding a taxi-driver inside his trunk and taking him on a joy ride before they abandoned him on the road, lock inside his car trunk. He also has a drug trafficking conviction against him in which he was fined four thousand dollars. He still owes three thousand according to the court books.