Twenty-two year-old Bernard Appolon, of Hillside Estate was formally charged in court yesterday with one count of murder, one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted murder of a man and woman attempting to make a deposit at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIBC) on Monday September 4.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt, Appolon who was not required to enter a plea, stood accused of intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Frederick Rigby a security guard and the attempted murder and armed robbery of Alsharika Stuart, an employee of McDonalds.

It is alleged that on Monday, September 4th around 10p.m, Appolon attempted to rob Rigby and Stuart who were making a deposit while at FCIBC on Maderia Street, subsequently shooting and killing Rigby, injuring Stuart and taking off with $4,649, the property of McDonalds.

Levying his own charges, Appolon through his attorney, Nathan Smith, told the court that while in custody, he was “significantly abused” by the interviewing officers who beat him.

Appolon also alleged that three officers stood on his body while he lay on his back, placed a back over his head suffocating him and punched him repeatedly in his back and eyes while at the Wulff Road Police Station.

Mr. Smith further told the court that while at the Wulff Road Police Station his client “complained and requested to go to the hospital but was denied”.

Mr. Smith also said that his client was to the “point of urinating blood”, but still got no assistance.

When Chf Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt inquired whether or not the condition persisted, Appolon said that to his knowledge he was still passing blood.

Smith further went on to say that Appolon was also punched in the throat and was coughing blood.

A further complaint was the fact that Appolon was in custody from September 5.

Chf. Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt in her response however, noted that because of the threat of Hurricane Irma the “courts were ordered by Cabinet closed on Thursday and Friday”.

Smith noted that his only reason for “specifying date” was because his client was not permitted to see a doctor and wanted that information to be placed in the courts records.

Chf Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt, assured Smith that the complaint made was noted and that the request for medical assistance, however, she did note that she had to deny his client’s request to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) as “at present the defendant cannot be accommodated.

She subsequently informed him that his remand warrant would be accompanied with a note to be seen by the prison doctors.

Appolon was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Corrections until November 6, when he returns for a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).