Kenyatta Boynes first appeared before the Magistrate Court on February 3, 2015 charged with the indictable offence of murder and attempted murder. Photo: VINO/File

Kenyatta Boynes (left) is accused of murdering Paul Prentice on December 14, 2014 on Water Front Drive in Road Town. Photo: VINO/File

Boynes, called ‘Yhats’, appeared in the High Court on Monday May 9, 2016 where it was decided that his murder trial will commence next week.

Boynes first appeared before the Magistrate Court on February 3, 2015 charged with the indictable offence of murder and attempted murder for the killing of Paul Prentice who was shot to death on December 14, 2014 on Water Front Drive in Road Town.

When he appeared before the Magistrate’s Court, the court heard that Cadeem Thomas saw the accused Kenyetta Boynes shooting in his direction.

Alleged reason for shooting

In giving testimony in the Magistrate's Court in 2015, Thomas said he was in the company of Prentice on the porch of Aaron’s Jeep and Car Rental. Crown Attorney O’Neil Simpson told the court that the shooting allegedly took place as a consequence of Thomas failing to keep an item safe for the accused.

He told the court that the three were associates and would hang together. On December 10, 2014 it was alleged that Boynes had visited Aaron’s Jeep and Car Rental where he met both Thomas and Prentice. He allegedly gave Thomas something which he instructed him to keep safely. Thomas allegedly failed to keep the item safely.

When the accused returned the following day he noted that the item was not kept safely as instructed. On December 13, 2014 the defendant allegedly returned again to the said establishment where an altercation ensued between himself and Thomas regarding the item.

It was further alleged that on December 14, 2014 both Thomas and Prentice were again at the said establishment and had left to go do business while the business was closing. Upon their return after being unsuccessful, they sat on the porch. While there that very night Thomas alleged to have seen the accused come to the area driving a vehicle and subsequently parking nearby.

It was shortly after that Prentice and Thomas heard loud sounds coming from the alleyway between the establishment and the ice-cream parlor.

Thomas told police that he looked and saw the accused pointing in their direction with what appeared to have been a gun and was shooting in their direction. The two took evasive actions and Prentice collapsed in the centre of the road at Water Front Drive while Thomas fled in the area of Nagico Insurances. They alleged that the accused fled on foot.

Boynes was subsequently arrested and on December 19, 2014 he was interviewed as it related to the incidents and he denied, providing an alibi.