Bob Marley grandson on gun charge

BY PAUL HENRY Co-ordinator — Crime/Court Desk

Matthew Prendergast

MATTHEW Prendergast, the grandson of reggae legend Bob and Rita Marley, has been slapped with a gun charge resulting from an altercation with a security guard at the Bob Marley Museum on Hope Road in St Andrew.

Prendergast, 25, is a musician reportedly based between Miami and Jamaica. He is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and assault at common law.

He is alleged to have pointed a gun at the security guard on April 5, during an altercation at the museum premises.

A firearm has not been recovered.

Yesterday, Prendergast was offered $200,000 bail when he appeared before Justice Martin Gayle in the High Court Division of the Gun Court.

He is to surrender his travel documents as part of his bail condition.

A September 24 date has been set for trial.

During the bail application, his attorney informed the court that there was an altercation but that no firearm was brought into play.

Christian Tavares-Finson told the Jamaica Observer later that Prendergast will be vindicated

at trial.

“We are happy that we were able to get bail today and we are confident that when the matter comes to trial in September that Matthew will be vindicated,” said Tavares-Finson.

He is the son of Sharon Marley and FIFA referee instructor Peter Prendergast.