The DPP said there is an eyewitness who disclosed information that the four accused, 29-year-old Edward Crook and 25-year-old Dejshon Benjamin of East End, 36-year-old Sea Cow’s Bay resident Micah Ormond, and 26-year-old K’Vawn Choucoutou of Cane Garden Bay, received payments for the murder of Shorty.

“Mr Daley was the target of a hit and it involved financial remuneration to the accused,” Scatliffe-Espirit told the Magistrate’s Court during the accused quartet’s arraignment today.

She did not disclose the identity of the alleged eyewitness due to the nature of the case but she mentioned the person who ordered the hit is still at large.

Daly was found sometime after 1 pm on September 10, 2020 on a road at Spring Ghut Bay leading to Nottingham Estate, a few feet from his white Hyundai Tuscan. He had multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body. Police recovered several spent shells from the crime scene.

Constant communication, victim was trailed

The DPP alleged that Crook was in constant communication with the deceased before his eventual demise. She added that after every contact with Daly, Crook contacted his other accused Ormand.

Citing telephone records, DPP Scatliffe-Espirit alleged that the first contact was around 9 am on the day in question. There were also a series of WhatsApp messages between Ormand and Crook recovered regarding “getting or setting up the fish”.

The court was informed that police later identified the ‘fish’ as Daly. Scatliffe-Espirit told the court that CCTV cameras also showed Crook’s car, a black Kia Soul, driving in the vicinity of the area where Daly lived on the morning of the murder.

Additionally, the DPP said that around 11:23 am, the now-deceased was making his way to Nanny Cay. When he passed J Blakx Food Truck, in the vicinity of the Governor’s office, a blue Suzuki Grand Vitara being driven by Benjamin with Choucoutou as his passenger was spotted in the area.

The DPP said Benjamin was trailing Daly before he pulled into VI Motors. The now-deceased continued to Nanny Cay where he made a call to Crook at about 11:39 am. The court was informed around 12:22 pm, Daly’s phone pinged on the Noah Cell Site which placed him in the vicinity of Spring Ghut Bay.

The court heard that Crook’s phone pinged on the same tower which placed him in the vicinity of his home in East End. The DPP added that around 12:25 pm, Crook made a 17-minute call to Ormond. Daley also called Crook during this time but it appeared he was placed on hold.

The court was then told the blue Suzuki transporting Benjamain and Choucoutou was seen heading towards East End in the direction of Spring Ghut Bay at approximately 1 pm. Shortly after, CCTV cameras showed the deceased driving towards the same location and Ormond’s Silver Rav4 circling and trailing behind. The DPP said at approximately 1:06 pm, Daly made his final call to Crook who proceeded to contact Ormond.

The court was told CCTV cameras caught the three vehicles, transporting the four accused, travelling in an easterly direction from Spring Ghut Bay between 1:07 pm and 1:10 pm — minutes after Daly’s body was found.

No bail

Back in court, the four accused men were not offered bail and Magistrate Khadeen Palmer ordered them remanded at Her Majesty Prison.

The case was adjourned until November 24.

Defence attorney Stephen Daniels is representing Crook while Ormond, Choucoutou and Benjamin are being represented by Valerie Gordon, Reynela Rawlins and Michael Maduro, respectively.