Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Nephew, teen accomplice charged with Berbick killing in Jamaica
11-04-2006

BUFF BAY, Jamaica (AFP): Harold Berbick, the nephew of former world heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick, and a teen accomplice were remanded in police custody in Jamaica on Friday after being charged with murdering the fighter.

Harold Berbick, a 20-year-old computer technician and sound system operator, and Kenton Gordon, an 18-year-old assistant plumber, were charged late Thursday and after their first court appearance are scheduled to return on Tuesday.

Both men are from the Norwich District where Berbick, who died at age 52, had spent time as a child and to where he had returned about five years ago.

Harold Berbick was represented by attorney Carl McDonald when appearing before Resident Magistrate judge Andrea Collins. Gordon is expected to be represented by an attorney on Tuesday.

Harold Berbick's mother, with whom the late fighter had a long-standing dispute, had been detained for questioning in connection with the grisly murder last weekend but has been released without being charged, police said.

Earlier this year, the boxer was charged with assault for allegedly punching the woman.

Trevor Berbick was last seen alive leaving a bar early last Saturday. His body was found several hours later in a churchyard near his home in Portland, 140km east of Kingston, with several slice wounds to the back of his head.

Berbick was the last man to fight Muhammad Ali, winning a 10-round decision in 1981 that pushed the legend into retirement, and became the man whose loss in 1986 made Mike Tyson the youngest champion in heavyweight history at age 20.

Boxer Berbick fought from Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics then enjoyed a pro career with a record of 50-11 with one drawn and 13 knockouts. He held the World Boxing Council heavyweight crown for eight months in 1986.

The fighter was convicted of assault in 1991 for attacking his former business manager and was sentenced to four years in prison in 1991 for rape as well as grand theft for forging his wife's signature.

Berbick was deported after serving a prison sentence and later settled in the area where he had grown up.