Man in Bahamas charged for killing witness ahead of his trial

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – A 39-year-old man in the Bahamas has been charged with murdering the key witness in his upcoming armed robbery trial, with the prosecution also alleging that Adnan Oliver breached the conditions of his bail by failing to report to a police station 81 times between January 3 and July 8, 2026.

Oliver is accused of killing James McPhee, 59, on July 12 before he could testify against him in a trial scheduled to begin on August 10.

The trial is expected to continue, with McPhee's witness statement being admitted into evidence.

Oliver had been accused of robbing McPhee at gunpoint of his Rolex watch in 2019.

He also faces charges of attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition stemming from a shoot-out with police.

Two off-duty officers, Chief Superintendent Harris Cash and Superintendent Elvis Miller, allegedly exchanged gunfire with Oliver as they pursued him after allegedly seeing him run over McPhee with his car.

Oliver was shot and arrested, and the officers allegedly recovered a 9mm pistol and five rounds of ammunition.

Oliver was not required to enter pleas to those charges and was denied bail.

Although he is accused of killing a witness, he was not charged under the section that would make him eligible for the death penalty.

The matter was adjourned to October 30 for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment that will fast-track the case to the Supreme Court.

Oliver pleaded guilty to violating his bail conditions, but Magistrate Abigail Farrington did not accept his plea because his explanation amounted to a defence.

He will be tried on that matter on August 11.

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