A St Michael man was not required to plead to having articles with him – those articles being a ski mask and a pair of gloves – to be used in connection with robbery or theft on Monday.

Ryan Andre Smith, a 33-year-old labourer of Storey Gap, Codrington Road, today appeared before Acting Magistrate Elwood Watts, who read the charge to him in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court.

Prosecuting Station Sergeant Neville Watson objected to bail for Smith. He noted the accused had four previous convictions and was already on bail on charges related to firearm and assault offences.

Watson also contended Smith had “not paid homage to the sanctity of bail and is back before the court today.”

Defence attorney Romain Marshall told the court that according to what his client had told him, both matters had been dismissed some time ago.

Even if they were not dismissed, Marshall submitted, they “should not be held over the accused’s head with regard to a matter which allegedly occurred this week”.

Marshall also said Smith was gainfully employed, the father of two and a good candidate for bail.

After hearing arguments, Acting Magistrate Watts granted the accused $5,000 bail and adjourned the matter until September 15.

A Bridgetown court heard today that school supplies which a St Peter man stole from a City business, were not for a student but for sale in order to get money to buy “blackies” to satisfy a drug habit.

Richard Ricardo Jordan of Six Men’s, pleaded guilty to the theft when he appeared before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court.

Jordan stole three erasers, seven books, two boxes of wax crayons and four packs of pencils valued at $119.94 from Pages Bookstore in Cave Shepherd yesterday.

Sergeant Theodore McClean told the court that the unemployed 44-year-old went into the bookstore and was seen by security taking the items and placing them in a haversack which he had with him.

After doing so, he walked past the cashier. However, on reaching the ground floor, he was stopped by security personnel and the supplies found in his bag.

After police were summoned and they interviewed Jordan, he told them, “I does smoke blackies [marijuana mixed with crack] and I was going to sell them for some money.”

The repeat offender told the Acting Magistrate that he did landscaping and other odd jobs. He also said he lived with his mother and brother but did not depend on his mother’s pension to feed him.

“I try to hold my own,” he said.

Asked about his drug use, Jordan replied that he smoked “when pressure comes” because, although his mother loved him a lot, support from other family members was not forthcoming.

“I really don’t want to go back to prison,” he pleaded.

However, the Acting Magistrate told him that any help he would receive, would have to be in prison, especially since he had not sought any help for his drug habit since he came out of jail.

Jordan was sentenced to 12 months and an order made for him to enrol in the drug rehabilitation programme.

Roscoe Moseley does not intend to allow a vehicle he owned to cause him to go before the law courts again.

When the Carrington’s Village, St Michael man appeared before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court today, he pleaded guilty to one charge related to the vehicle.

Namely, having the car’s glass windows tinted to such a degree that it made the driver unidentifiable from a reasonable distance, by a person outside of the vehicle. The traffic violation was committed last December 4.

When Watts reminded Moseley of another 2014 traffic offence which he had committed, Moseley replied: “Since that last one – and now this one, I sell the car, Sir.”

“So you passed on the problem to somebody else?” asked Watts.

“No, I told the person to remove the tint,” Moseley responded, adding that he had purchased the vehicle from a cop.

After he was convicted, reprimanded and discharged, a smiling Moseley said, “thank you, Sir” and walked briskly out of the courtroom.

A bold 22-year-old man, who hit a security guard in the head with a piece of wood after he refused to give him money, will know his fate by next week.

When Renison Isaiah Prince, of Hindsbury Road, St Michael appeared before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts, he admitted to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Randel London on July 11. When London attends court on July 22, it will be with a view to awarding him compensation.

Sergeant Theodore MacClean described to the District ‘A’ Traffic Court how Prince hit London
in his head while the security officer was at his workplace.

MacClean explained that on the date in question, London was on duty at Bridge Street Mall, Bridge Street, the City. He was in an office around 3.30 p.m. monitoring surveillance cameras when he heard a door open. He looked up to see a man he knew who frequented the mall.

The man, Prince, approached London and said: “Give me something to go and buy something to eat.” London advised Prince to “go and look for some work,” to which Prince replied: “You better mek sure you got my money before I get back here.”

The complainant then went over to Prince and told him that he could not be addressing him that way for his own money. Prince left the room and London returned to his work.

Fifteen minutes later, the guard heard the door reopening and, assuming it was one of the cleaners, paid no attention. He then felt a blow to his head and realized that Prince had returned with a piece of wood and had struck him.

London took the wood away from Prince, who then ran away. A mall employee took Prince to seek medical attention and police later arrested the attacker.

Today, Prince was granted $7 500 bail and ordered to report to a police station twice weekly. A presentencing report was also ordered, which should be handed over to the court on August 20.

Andrew Tyrone Trotman appeared before a Bridgetown magistrate yesterday facing two charges – one
for sacrilege and the other for escaping legal custody.

The Haynes Hill, St John resident, who denied both offences, was remanded to HMP Dodds.

He is accused of entering the James Street Methodist Church on July 12 and stealing several tools, including a power saw, drill, angle grinder, router, hammer and a tin of paint to the tune of $1 895 altogether.

The second charge is that he escaped lawful custody from the District ‘A’ Police Station without using force,
on July 13.

When Trotman went before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts, he was not required to plead to both indictable charges.

In objecting to bail for the accused, Station Sergeant Neville Watson said he feared that if Trotman were released, further allegations would arise.

The prosecutor added that the accused would very likely not show up for trial, given that there is already a second charge where “only a few days ago he [allegedly] escaped lawful custody” along with the possible penalty for sacrilege, which is life imprisonment.

He was further concerned about the protection of society. When he referred to Trotman’s antecedents, Watson stated that based on the records dating back to 1992, “29 of those are for burglary”.

When given the chance to speak, Trotman told the court: “The truth, Sir, I am on drugs, Sir. Right now, I hearing things and I would like you to get a little help for me.”

Trotman told the court that the items “were not in the church. I would never break into a church, Sir.”

Acting Magistrate Watts advised him to report any issues to the prison on his arrival so they could record it and
help him.

Station Sergeant Irvin Kellman urged the court today to admonish an accused man, so that he understood that where “circumstances have caused a relationship to end, he must move on”.

Kellman was addressing Acting Magistrate Elwood Watts in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court, where a 34-year-old joiner had just denied assaulting the mother of his child on July 10.

After doing so, Andre MacDonald Gittens was placed on $7 500 bail.

The Acting Magistrate also ordered the Green Park Lane, Baxters Road resident to report to Central Police Station every Friday.

Kellman rose today to inform the court that he was of the view that Gittens’ problem was that he “had difficulty moving on.”

The police officer suggested that a third party facilitates the handing over of the child, which the accused and the complainant share, so that any likelihood of further allegations could be minimized.

“I don’t know if they are better fish in the sea but there are other fish in the sea,” Kellman assuredthe court.

Watts acknowledged the words of advice andordered the accused man “not to harass or interfere with the complainant [Kdia Patrick] directly, indirectlyor through any medium including calls, texts or Whatsapp messages.”

When questioned by the Magistrate though, Gittens said he and he woman were through.

The accused, who was represented by attorney-at-law Oliver Thomas, returns to court on August 18.

Gairy Decourcey Zephirin wasted no time admitting to the police and the court that the cannabis police caught him with on Monday, was his.

Zephirin, 38, of King William Street, Nelson Street, the City, appeared before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts yesterday where he pleaded guilty to possession of a small quantity of marijuana.

Police on duty in Storey Gap, St Michael saw Zephirin sitting under a shed with others. However, as the lawmen approached, he got up and ran, holding something in his hand.

Zephirin was pursued and caught with a small quantity of loose marijuana in a transparent plastic bag.

His attorney Romain Marshall told the court that his client had saved time by his early guilty plea, which showed “a willingness to take responsibility for his actions”.

Marshall went on to say that Zephirin was a self-employed vegetable and livestock farmer with five children whom he provided for both financially and emotionally.

The lawyer also pointed out that he had cooperated fully with the police.

Acting Magistrate Watts fined Zephirin $750 forthwith, with an alternative of three months in jail. The fine was paid.

Watts also warned and reminded Zephirin that he had been before the court “already this year for the same offence, not so long ago”.

Well-known Bridgetown street character, Anthony Fitzpatrick “Ninja Man” Lynch, was today banned from going on the premises of the Treasury Building on Bridge Street.

Lynch was told not to do so when he appeared before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to answer a charge of damaging the government building.

He pleaded guilty and was fined $50 in seven days with an alternative of seven days in prison.

Dr Waldo Waldron-Ramsay Q.C, who was in the same court, appeared ‘amicus’ for Lynch.

He told the court that Lynch did not operate “out of malice” when he painted graffiti on a portion of the building, but intended to do good.

In fact, Lynch himself explained that he was an artist and was “painting something from the 15th Century.”

Waldron-Ramsay went on to say that from what he understood, Lynch was very intelligent from childhood and was headed to Harrison College but was severely affected after being offered cocaine.

The lawyer said that he met Lynch’s mother in the 1970s while she was singing in a nightclub in Germany. They since became good friends and he therefore knew Lynch very well.

The attorney also recalled Lynch representing himself very well in a High Court matter where he had been accused of stealing a clock from St Stephen’s Church.

Waldron-Ramsay said Lynch had stood up well under cross-examination from former prosecutor Elliott Belgrave (now Sir Elliot, the Governor General) and had used “beautiful English.”

Lynch told the court that he had not used his psychiatric medication for a few weeks. He also said that he slept on the pavement of the Treasury Building.

Watts told him, however, not to go on the premises anymore.

Presenting the facts, Sergeant Theodore McClean said police officers went to the Treasury Building after receiving a report. Lynch was interviewed and admitted defacing the building.

He was arrested and charged for criminal damage.

Four young men were due to appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court here this morning jointly charged with aggravated burglary.

They are Sean Lenny Matthias, 21, of Forde’s Land Silver Hill, Christ Church; Jahlanny Tremaine Yarde, 17, of Silver Hill Drive, Christ Church; Carl Trevor Kishna, 17, of Bank Hall Cross Road, St Michael; and Shaquan Sherwin Crichlow, 18, of Civilian Road, Bush Hall, St Michael.

This follows an incident last Friday night in which a number of persons, armed with a firearm, stole an undisclosed sum of money from Errie’s Tyre Service, situated at Hothersal Turning, St Michael before escaping.

On the same night, police, acting on a tip off, captured the men at a petrol station in Collymore Rock, St Michael.

Dario Ramon Austin had a marijuana wrapping for each one of his years.

Austin, 23, of Glebe Land, St George, admitted having 23 wrappings of cannabis when police searched him on July 16, at Haggatt Hall, St Michael. He appeared in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court on Friday.

According to Sergeant Theodore McClean, police were conducting traffic checks in the Haggatt Hall area when they stopped the car in which Austin was travelling in.

When they reached the vehicle, Austin began fidgeting with the front of his pants. The lawmen became suspicious and told him of their observations.

They requested a search and while doing so, found the wrappings in his underwear. Austin then apologized to the police for having the substance.

In court on Friday, he again apologized but to acting Magistrate Elwood Watts. He remarked: “I willing to do community service or pay a fine or something so for the cannabis.”

“You had a lot of wrappings though. What were you doing with 23 wrappings?” Watts questioned.

“I had them to smoke, Sir.”

“I don’t smoke but even if I bought a box of cigarettes, it wouldn’t have in 23,” the acting magistrate remarked.

“It would have in 20,” the accused said.

Asked what he did for a living, Austin said he and two of his cousins were engaged in farming.

Watts then informed the first-time offender that he would be fined $1 500 payable in 60 days, or spend 60 days in jail.

“You are not finding the weed,” Watts stressed. “You’re finding the money to buy it, so you could find $1 500 to pay the court.”

A man who injured a mother and her daughter at the Valery high rise housing complex in May, will know his fate by August 14 when the case comes up again.

Shakir Akil Elias Greaves, a 24-year-old painter of Block 9E Division Drive, Eden Lodge, St Michael, was again remanded when he reappeared before the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court.

Shakir Greaves (right) being led from the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

He faces charges of intentionally destroying Jalisa Springer’s cellular phone case and assaulting her on May 5 and then unlawfully and maliciously wounding the woman’s mother, Cherral Springer, on May 11.

Greaves was not required to plead to his final charge of causing serious bodily harm to Jalisa Springer with intent to maim, disfigure and disable her on May 11.

Greaves pleaded guilty on an earlier occasion to three of the four charges and a pre-sentencing report was ordered on him.

When Greaves reappeared on Friday, the prosecutor, Station Sergeant Neville Watson, was to update the court about the condition of the complainant who was hospitalized the last time the matter was called.

Both mother and daughter were in the courtroom on Friday. However, the matter still could not proceed since Greaves’ attorney had earlier informed the court that he wanted to be present and asked that the case be stood down.

When afternoon came and the attorney was not present, Magistrate Douglas Frederick adjourned the matter.

Stealing a $600 cellular phone and then failing to complete a drug rehabilitation programme, which he was ordered to undergo, has cost a Greenfield, St Michael man three months in prison.

That substitute sentence was imposed by Magistrate Douglas Frederick on Sheldon Angus Thorne who had pleaded guilty to the theft charge on July 31 last year. The phone belonged to Roy Bishop.

At the time, Thorne, 47, told the court he needed help for his drug problem. As a result, he was sent first to the Psychiatric Hospital for evaluation and then on to the drug rehabilitation programme at Verdun House, which he failed to complete.

The word from Verdun was that Thorne was kicked out after failing to comply and settle in with his peers.

“If you recognize that the problem is drugs and you are not addressing the problem, you are going to be back here all the time,” Frederick told Thorne.

In response, Thorne said the only reason he had “left” the programme was because a man was interfering with him and he left before it escalated.

For slapping a woman in her face on July 15, Marcus Delisle Gill has to fork out $2 500.

The compensation was ordered by Chief Magistrate Pamela Beckles at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court where Gill appeared last Friday.

He pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Desiree Lashley but denied using the threatening words, “I gine kill you” towards her on that same date.

Gill resides at Forde Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael.

Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett told the court that Gill and Lashley, who were previously involved in a relationship, were driving their respective cars last Wednesday in the area of St George.

When Gill saw Lashley, he stopped his vehicle, got out and went over to hers, demanding repayment of $2 800. When she refused, the two argued and it ended with Gill slapping the woman.

The complainant tearfully told the court that she never asked for the funds, but Gill offered the cash to her.

During his mitigation, attorney-at-law Oliver Thomas said his client loaned rather than gave Lashley the money.

He said that Gill only slapped the complainant in retaliation, after she spat on him during the argument they were having over the same money.

Thomas also said the incident was “an isolated” one and his client did not have a propensity for violence.

Gill was placed on a 12-month bond to keep the peace and ordered to pay the $2,500 in compensation within three months.

When Kevin Johnson returns to court tomorrow, acting Magistrate Elwood Watts will know whether he wants to drop or continue a matter involving a man who stole
$3 000 from him last week.

Kemar Renaldo Barton, 22, pleaded guilty to the theft when he went before the District ‘A’ Traffic Court last Saturday and was remanded to HMP Dodds until Wednesday.

The accused explained to the court, though, that he and the complainant had made an arrangement and once the money is repaid, all will be well.

On July 15, Barton entered Kevin Johnson’s home as a trespasser and stole $3 000, a Samsung S3 cellphone valued at $800, a Guyanese passport and a pair of jeans, with a total value of $4 230.

In the facts, which Station Sergeant Irvin Kellman outlined, Johnson, who lives in a room within a rented house, was saving towards a trip overseas.

Sometime around 10 p.m. on July 15, Barton showed up at Johnson’s house. The complainant thought it strange since he had banned Barton from coming there, after hearing he had stolen another tenant’s shoes.  Johnson therefore told Barton he was leaving home and Barton left.   

Ten minutes later, another friend of Johnson showed up. The two were at the residence socializing and as soon as that friend, Chad Griffith, left, Johnson fell asleep. He awoke soon after to find a shadow in his bedroom.

He looked closer and realizing it was Barton, called out his name. By then, Barton had taken up a jeans which was on top of a suitcase. In the pocket of the pants was the
$3 000 and the passport with which Johnson planned to travel.

The complainant chased Barton but stopped when he reached a dark area in Bedford Lane. Johnson then made a report to police and Barton was held in Reed Street, The City, in the wee hours of July 16. He later handed over the cellular phone and US$140.

A case involving more than half million dollars and 40 charges was thrown out today after the prosecution was unable to hand over pre-trial disclosure to the accused men’s attorney.

Dwight Robert Neste Jordan, 32, a clerical officer of #252 Husbands, St James and Gay Harcourt Gibson, 65, a contractor of Deacons Road, St Michael, appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court for the continuation of their case.

Jordan was charged with 13 counts of dishonestly falsifying the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s computerized Smart Stream records required for the hospital’s accounting purposes, with a view to either himself or someone else gaining, sometime between May 2011 and November 2012.

Gibson faced one count of engaging in money laundering, in that he disposed of $560, 321. 72, which was the proceeds of crime, between December 20, 2011 and February 7, 2013.

Additionally, he was accused of 12 counts of producing invoices in the name of his company, Gibson Construction and Maintenance, to the QEH for accounting purposes that, to his knowledge, were deceptive.

The two men were also jointly charged with 16 counts of stealing over $560 000 in total, which were the proceeds of Barbados National Bank Incorporated and payable to Gibson’s company, belonging to the QEH.

Earlier this year when the matter came up, the prosecution was in possession of eight of the 16 statements needed to complete the file.

Attorney-at-law Andrew Pilgrim, QC, who was appearing for Jordan at the time, also made an application on behalf of Gibson as a friend of the court.

He had asked the court to dismiss the matter based on the fact that the file was still outstanding which, in essence, prevented the case from proceeding. He also asked the court to take into consideration that Gibson’s physical condition had deteriorated to a large extent and he had lost more than 50 pounds while on remand at HMP Dodds.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick said he would not dismiss the case then, but offered the prosecution a final adjournment to get the other documents in order so that the matter could proceed.

Today, the prosecution still had the same number of statements as on the last occasion. Therefore, when Station Sergeant Neville Watson requested another week in which to complete the file, the request was denied.

Magistrate Frederick felt that the prosecution had been given enough time and that it was also a question of maintaining his integrity since he had granted a final adjournment previously. He therefore dismissed the case.

A St Barnabas, St Michael woman has been ordered not to “interfere with or harass”, in any way, the complainant in a matter against her.

Acting Magistrate Elwood Watts ordered Shernell Olivia Blackman, 47, not to call, text, message, or in any way, not even through an intermediary, have contact with Marlon Maynard.

Blackman was not required to plead to the indictable offence of wounding Maynard with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him, or to cause him some serious bodily harm on June 30 this year while at Temple Yard, Cheapside, The City.

Maynard was allegedly wounded with a cutlass on the date and subsequently underwent surgery on one hand.

The accused, who went before the District ‘A’ Court, was also ordered to report to Central Police Station every Friday with identification.

She is return to court on September 3.

A Kensington New Road, St Michael resident learnt two things when she attended the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court yesterday; firstly, that she has to dress appropriately for court and, secondly, that the court is not obliged to wait on her.

Jhakira Patrice Akilah Matthews, 29, was involved in two matters down for hearing. In one case, she was accused of wounding Stacy Andell Lashley and, in the other cross-charge, Lashley was accused of wounding her. Lashley lives at Chepstow Street, The City.

When Matthews showed up for court, she was asked by a court official to go and change and return in appropriate attire. Matthews told the police constable that she would come back “when I feel like”.

By 11.30 a.m. when Sergeant Janice Ifill called the matter a second time, Matthews was still not back.
The court was then informed of what the woman had said.

When she entered the courtroom about ten minutes later, Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant asked her to enter the dock. Matthews admitted that she had in fact spoken those words. While the Magistrate was scolding the woman about her behaviour, Matthews laughed.

She was told that it was “no laughing matter” and was ordered to pay $50 costs forthwith or face seven days in jail. The money was paid.

The matter against Matthews was adjourned.

An English law student visiting the island was ordered to paid $300 in cost to the court after admitting that he had a small quantity of marijuana in his possession yesterday.

Jordie Ntukila Divungula appeared today before acting Magistrate Elwood Watts in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge.

Sergeant Theodore McClean said police were on duty at Westbury Road, St Michael when they stopped the car in which Divungula was the front seat passenger. He said as the lawmen approached the vehicle, there was a strong scent of marijuana coming from inside.

They spoke to the 20-year-old and after conducting a search, found four grams of cannabis inside two grease-proof wrappings. The visitor admitted getting the weed from a man whom he did not know.

Today, Divungula apologized to the court. Asked what he was studying, he replied “business and law.”

“I hope you are studying how to uphold it and not how to break it,” remarked Watts. He added that since Divungula was leaving
the island soon, the best option would be to impose a fine.

Attorney-at-law Samuel Legay, who was present in the courtroom, rose. Speaking as a friend of the court, he asked the acting magistrate to consider costs rather than a fine.

Legay told the court he was “not trivializing the offence,” but to impose a fine would amount to a conviction which could affect Divungula’s chances of not only returning to Barbados, but visiting other countries as well.

“Do you understand the ramifications of what your simple actions have done? Never mind it is only four grams, it would still be recorded as a drug conviction,” the acting magistrate told Divungula.

Watts then ordered him to pay $300 forthwith with no conviction being recorded. The money was paid but since Immigration officials wanted to interview Divungula afterwards, the English visitor left the courtroom with them.

A case against a man who pleaded guilty last Saturday to charges of breaking into a home in the City and stealing items worth $4,201.70, is likely to be concluded next Monday.

In pleading guilty, Kemar Renaldo Barton, 22, of no fixed place of abode, had told the District ‘A’ Traffic Court that the complainant in the case, Kevin Johnson, had said that once he was refunded the money, he would no longer be pursuing the matter.

Against this backdrop, acting Magistrate Elwood Watts remanded Burton to HMP Dodds and adjourned the matter until today so that the court could determine if what Barton said was true.

Police, however, were unable to locate Johnson and the case was adjourned until next Monday to give them another opportunity to locate the Guyanese national, who did not attend court today since he was not notified he had to do so.

On July 15, Barton entered Johnson’s home as a trespasser. Besides $3 000 in cash, he took a Samsung S3 cell phone valued at $800, a Guyanese passport and a pair of jeans. When police arrested Barton, he handed over only the cellular phone and US$140.

When Barton reappeared in court today, his employer verified that Barton “gives me a hand” as a casual when there is work. When asked, the employer said he believed Barton lives “in Reed Street or someplace like that” in the City but could not say definitively where.

When Barton subsequently asked for bail to spend his daughter’s birthday with her tomorrow, acting Magistrate Watts remarked: “But you think if you work for him and he does not even know where you live, I will know where you live when the court wants you?”

He added: “If you live, and she (Barton’s daughter) lives and you behave yourself, you will be able to see many more of her birthdays. I’m sorry, but not this particular one. I didn’t go into anybody’s house and take up anybody’s property. You should have thought about (that) before.”

Barton was again remanded in custody until his re-appearance in court next Monday.

Shamar Jovani Marcus Skeete, a 22-year-old tour representative, was found guilty by a Bridgetown magistrate’s court on Monday for refusing to leave the Police Certificate of Character office.

The offence was committed last September.

After hearing the evidence, Magistrate Douglas Frederick decided to reprimand
and discharge the St Michael man, considering that he was about to leave the island shortly to take up employment overseas.

According to evidence presented by police, Skeete went to get a police certificate of character but was told, on reaching the office, that the computer system was down.  He subsequently became frustrated and boisterous, which led to his arrest.

Magistrate Frederick told the young man who, the court heard, had referred to himself more than once as a University of the West Indies (UWI) graduate, that he ought to be more humble.