The American accused of murdering his Bermudian cousin Garrow Lightbourn Jr. at the weekend was free on bail awaiting trial on drugs charges at the time of the murder.

Cornell R. (Henny) Shawell, 28, allegedly shot 26-year-old Mr. Lightbourn, known as Trevor, in the chest on Sunday night in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in a feud over money.

The Pottstown Mercury newspaper reported yesterday that court records showed Shawell had a history of alleged drug and weapons offences.

When Sunday night's killing took place, he was on bail awaiting trial on charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in connection with a March, 2007 incident. Shawell was convicted in 2004 of carrying a firearm without a licence.

The newspaper said the arrest affidavit from the weekend revealed that one resident of Bright Hope told authorities she heard arguing and gunshots, looked outside and saw Shawell running to his girlfriend's residence.

Shawell allegedly looked at the woman and said to her: "I'm already going to jail, it don't matter, I don't give a (expletive)."

An autopsy on Mr. Lightbourn Jr., who was born in the US but brought up in Bermuda, confirmed that he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Montgomery County Chief Deputy Coroner Jeanne M. Ottinger listed the cause of death as homicide.

Mr. Lightbourn, a former pupil of Elliott Primary School, Whitney Institute and CedarBridge Academy, was listed as living at two addresses — one in the small community of Pottstown, which is about 35 miles from Philadelphia, and another in Pottsville, Schuylkill County.

Shawell is charged with first and third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime and flight to avoid apprehension in connection with the slaying. He is remanded in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing on February 25.

According to court records, he admitted unlawfully carrying a firearm without a licence while in a vehicle in 2004 and received two years' probation and 48 hours community service.

In March 2007, Pottstown Police charged Shawell with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and related charges after allegedly finding eight grams of crack cocaine in his trousers during a traffic stop. He was freed on $10,000 unsecured bail to appear in court on March 18.