By Staff Writer, Guardian News Desk

A man accused of murder was granted $20,000 bail after a prosecutor agreed the evidence against him was "tenuous."

Bernes Nelson, 23, of Palm Beach Street, is one of five men charged with the murder of Holland Griffin on June 26. Griffin was hit in the head with a cement block following a fight outside a sporting lounge, according to police.

Justice Elliot Lockhart set bail on the condition that Nelson reports to the Grove Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the case is completed. He was also warned to stay away from witnesses in the matter,

Nelson was represented by Tamara Taylor. Stephanie Pintard appeared for the Crown.

Meanwhile, Justice Lockhart has deferred his decision on bail in the case of alleged drug trafficker Christopher Ebanks. The 35-year-old is charged in connection with the January 10 seizure of 974 pounds of marijuana and 150 pounds of hashish. He was reportedly arrested near a boat that contained the drugs. At the time of his arrest, Ebanks was on $80,000 bail for a drug case involving 600 pounds of marijuana. The alleged commission of the second offense while on bail was the reason for prosecutor Linda Evans' objection to bail.

But his lawyer Murrio Ducille pointed out that Ebanks had spent almost a year in prison and his case was not near conclusion. He said that the trial court's calendar was fully booked and cases in the court were already being adjourned to April 2009.

Justice Lockhart adjourned the matter to November 25 for an update on the status of Ebanks' case.