Ryan Marie denied bail application |06 June 2023

The Supreme Court has ruled for Ryan Marie of Anse Des Genet, Pointe Larue, to be remanded for another 14 days in custody after his application for bail was denied.

The ruling was given by Judge Gustave Dodin yesterday morning.

Marie has been accused for manslaughter in connection with the death of Samuel Cousin who was fatally stabbed during an altercation between two men at the bus stop near the Seychelles International Airport in the sub district of Anse Des Genet on September 25, 2022. Ryan appeared in court the following day in relation to the incident and has been held on remand consecutively after.

Representing Marie, lawyer Joel Camille had filed for his client to be released on bail given that in a similar case of manslaughter the accused was given bail. This was in relation to the death of Lenny Marcel from Anse Aux Pins, who died on August 11, 2019, when a scooter he was riding collided with a chain that was stretched across the second bridge at the entrance of Ile Soleil. The accused, Espedie Barra from Mont Plaisir, Anse Royale, was released on bail.

The state, represented by lawyer Shireen Denys, objected to the application stating that the two deaths could not be compared given that Lenny Marcel was killed by hitting the chain while Samuel Cousin was stabbed in a violent manner by a person. The objection to the application stated further that given the way Samuel was killed, upon release on bail Marie could repeat the same offence including interfering with potential witnesses and not forgetting his own safety.

Judge Dodin stated that among other reasons, he was satisfied from facts from the state affidavit that the death of Samuel Cousin was very violent and that it resulted from the use of an offensive weapon, namely a knife, causing fatal injury to the victim.

“For the above reasons, I do not consider it prudent therefore to release the accused on bail at present,” said Justice Dodin, who noted that the ruling does not preclude the accused from making further applications for bail should there be changes in circumstances. 

Given that June 19 is a public holiday, Judge Dodin has set June 16, 2023 for Ryan Marie to reappear in court.

Also in court yesterday, Roy Azemia and Andrew Estral, charged with planning to explode the petrol service station in the district of Grand Anse Mahé on the eve of Independence Day in June 2021, the day they were arrested, will reappear before the court on June 9, 2023 where the defense has been asked to make their submissions after which the court will set a date to deliver the judgment.

Patrick Joubert