$600,000 bail for men accused of murdering man by setting him on fire

Two men accused of murdering a man by setting him on fire were today each offered $600,000 bail when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Charged with murder are 57-year-old security guard Garnet Dale, otherwise called 'Lazarus', and 42-year-old Kemar Wilson, both of Glen Drive in Kingston 8.

They are charged in relation to the death of 34-year-old Kemar Smith, who lived in the community.

Reports are that about 9:00 am, on April 27, Smith and persons from the community had a verbal dispute, during which he was reportedly set upon by Dale and Wilson who allegedly doused him with gasoline and then set him ablaze.

Smith, upon realising that he was on fire, quickly removed his clothing and jumped into a water container in an effort to extinguish the flames, the police reported.

Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox

Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.

He then ran to the police station with severe burns all over his body.

He was assisted to hospital where he was admitted in a serious but stable condition.

On Tuesday, May 2, Smith died from his injuries.

Following investigations, the two accused men were arrested and charged.

During the bail application their lawyers, however, denied their involvement in the vicious incident, claiming an identity issue.

The men are to return to court on December 14.

Attorney-at-law Richard Lynch is representing Wilson, while Dale is being represented by attorney Matthew Hyatt.

- Tanesha Mundle