WESTERN BUREAU:

The family of accused would-be hijacker, Stephen Fray, has apologised to the nation for any embarrassment the April 19 incident may have put the country through.

Fray is facing 10 counts of gun-related charges in the Western Regional Gun Court and a number of other charges in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, for taking more than 160 passengers aboard a CanJet charter plane hostage in April at the Donald Sangster International Airport.

Begging for understanding

Just days shy of hearing a verdict in their son's case, Donna Fray, mother of the 22-year-old accused, said: "I want to apologise to the country for any disruption, I want to apologise to the pilots and the passengers that were on the CanJet aircraft on Sunday, April 19."

Begging for understanding of the trauma that the family is now going through, Mrs Fray, who watched her son handcuffed and driven away from the Western Regional Gun Court by police officers on Monday afternoon, pleaded with the country to bear with her family.

"Clearly, what happened shouldn't have reached this far," stated a weary-looking Earl Fray, father of the young man who has been behind bars since the incident occurred five months ago.

Pay more attention

"I hope people with kids, especially the quiet ones, will pay more attention to them," declared the elder Fray, who appeared to have aged considerably since his son was taken into custody.

The entire family had just exited the courthouse on Monday, where Fray's younger sister, Dominique, and his parents gave character references in the case. Fray's brother, Chris, sat outside the courtroom waiting patiently.

Although the case is being tried in camera, Gleaner sources said that during the court proceedings Earl Fray spoke of the change that he saw in his son's behaviour months before the incident, but thought it was a phase and one he would go through quickly.

Fray's sister, Dominique, said she watched her brother become introverted, changing from an outgoing young man into almost a recluse.

"He would lock himself in the darkness in his room," she reportedly told the court.

One of Fray's lawyers, George Thomas, who also spoke with The Gleaner, said all the family members expressed surprise at what took place on the night of the incident.

"All the family members said he is a well brought up young man who gave no problem, had no record of violence or misbehaviour," Thomas said.

Thomas and his son, Martyn, who form the defence team, gave closing arguments Tuesday, wrapping up the case that has been on trial in the Gun Court for the last two months, while the prosecution, led by Crown Counsel Jeremy Taylor, replied.

The case was adjourned until today, when the judge, Sarah Thompson-James, is expected to deliver her verdict.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com