On the final day of a matter involving accused Michael Eugene Kareem Spooner, he opted not to give an unsworn statement from the dock or a sworn one from the witness stand; instead Spooner exercised his right to remain silent.
When Magistrate Douglas Frederick asked the accused: “Do you want to address me on any points the prosecution raised?” he replied, “No Sir”.
He also gave the same response when asked: “Do you want to call any defence witnesses?”
However, after Spooner was found guilty of assaulting Marcia Chandler and occasioning her actual bodily harm on March 20, 2012, he asked whether he could call his co-accused as a witness.
“We are past that,” Frederick replied.
Spooner is from 6th Avenue Austin Drive, Eden Lodge, St Michael. The first-time offender has five months in which to come up with $7 630 in compensation, or he will face equivalent jail time.
Previously, Spooner and Asha Taylor-Kellman had both been charged with the offence. However, while Spooner maintained his innocence, his co-accused pleaded guilty and was ordered to do 200 hours of community service by another magistrate.
Magistrate Frederick then asked Chandler to inform the court about her medical expenses. She explained that she had medical and dental expenses after suffering injury to her eye and her mouth; in particular to one tooth which had come out and a root canal which had to be redone and the tooth replaced.
After hearing that he was found guilty and the subsequent sentence, Spooner reminded that court that both he and Taylor-Kellman had been charged with the offence and should both be responsible.
Though acknowledging it, Frederick pointed out that she had already been sentenced. The complainant also interjected to say that it was Spooner who hit her in the mouth that day.
Evidence during the trial revealed that Chandler and Taylor-Kellman are neighbours who consistently quarrel over a fence which was erected by Chandler.
On the date, Chandler was walking toward a garbage can a short distance
away when she saw two persons coming toward her.
The two women collided since neither stepped aside to let the other pass. They began fighting and Spooner, who was with Taylor-Kellman, parted them, but while doing so, Chandler fell.
The complainant said Spooner hit her
as well.