DILLON, SC (WBTW) – On Wednesday, a bond hearing was held for one of the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a Rowland man
Back in late January divers pulled 30-year-old Jamel Smith’s body from the trunk of his car which was found in the Little Pee Dee River in Little Rock.
Last month, the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33-year-old Christopher Green and 53-year-old Ervin Stanley, both from Dillon.
They are charged with one count of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and criminal conspiracy.
However, only Stanley was the suspect in court on Wednesday. Green’s attorney chose to withdrawal his bond.
It only took a matter of minutes for the judge to rule for bond to be denied for Ervin Stanley.
“Our expectation was that the bond be denied, that they would hear from his family about how we feel about the incident that occurred,” said Damien Smith, Jamel Smith’s brother.
About 20 of Smith’s family members gathered in the courtroom, including his mother and the mother of his 10-year-old daughter, making the emotional plea to have bond denied.
“It was hard for me to speak, but I know it had to be done. I know that my brother would have done it for me. So I had to be sure that our words were heard,” mentioned Smith.
The bond hearing for Green will be set on a later date.
The solicitor’s office says the state has solid evidence to start building a case and look to go to trial as soon as possible.
