A woman whose house was broken into by notorious burglar Andre Shamar Freeman more than three years ago, told the High Court on Wednesday that she had to seek the help of a therapist to try to get over the traumatic incident.

And while Sabeeha Kazi told Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell that intervention had helped somewhat, she said she and her parents were still trying to come to grips with what had occurred.

Freeman, who has over three dozen convictions for burglary, was back in the No. 4 Supreme Court to hear Kazi’s victim impact statement.

The 34-year-old Freeman, of Crusher Site Road, Prospect, St James, pleaded guilty to entering Kazi’s home as a trespasser on July 28, 2018, and stealing a laptop, two pairs of sunglasses, four pairs of earrings, five rings, a bracelet and $50 cash. The items had a total value of $14,380.

Kazi told the court she had not gotten over the harrowing incident.

“Immediately after the event, I moved back home. I was living alone at the time. I could not live alone since then and I still have moments where I am paranoid. I have had panic attacks since the matter where I continuously lock a door and then wouldn’t remember if it was locked or not and then I would have a panic attack and would have to rush home. Those kinds of things still occur to this day,” she informed the court.

“It is only this year that I have moved out and can live on my own, and I still don’t feel comfortable because someone was in my space. My parents are still paranoid when I’m living alone as well because of what happened, so it is scary for my entire family, for me, just being alone in this situation all over again. There is a fear that it could happen again. It is something that I face every single day.”

Kazi said she attended therapy for a year and a half and only stopped when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the island last year.

After hearing about her experience, Freeman apologized profusely to the victim and to the court for his actions.

He conceded that his act had “tormented” Kazi.

Freeman begged the court to allow him to compensate the victim for some of the stolen items that were never recovered.

“I can’t even say sorry because I torment this young lady’s home. I went into her private space…. I really and truly would like to say to Ms Kazi that I humbly apologize and I gine accept my punishment and I am willing to compensate her for her jewellery which I took, and if it is that Ms Kazi would accept my compensation, I willing to pay even if I have to pay $500 or $1,000 a month. With help from my family I am willing to compensate her for her jewellery,” he said.

When asked by Justice Smith-Bovell if she would be open to accepting compensation from Freeman, Kazi said while it was admirable some things could not be replaced.

“The difficulty is that I can understand that he would want to compensate me for it but there were things that were heirlooms – my wedding rings were taken and there are things that I can never get back.

“At the end of the day, compensation is great and while I can appreciate that that’s fine, how do you then assess what you compensate for my peace? Even the things that were one-of-a-kind jewellery I’m never going to get them back…,” Kazi said.

Justice Smith-Bovell indicated to the burglary victim that any compensation offered by Freeman would not be forthcoming as he would be in prison for “a little while”.

She then adjourned the matter until January 28, 2022, when Freeman will be sentenced.

Crown Counsel Kevin Forde prosecuted the case.

The post Burglary victim finding it hard to get over 2018 break-in appeared first on Barbados Today.

A young man facing three criminal charges, including murder, is now on remand at Dodds Prison.

Royale Achim Juwan Trotman, a 23-year-old labourer from No. 6 Gall Hill Terrace, St John was not required to enter a plea on the murder charge. He is alleged to have taken the life of 74-year-old Phyllis Edgehill between November 28 and December 1.

Additionally, no plea was recorded on the charge that on December 19 being a prisoner in lawful custody, having been arrested for murder, he escaped without the use of force.

Trotman however took responsibility for an assault charge which he committed against Jadon Sobers on December 16.

Station Sergeant Peter Barrow told Oistins Magistrate Deidre McKenna that Sobers, who had been sharing a cell with Trotman at the Oistins Police Station called for assistance around 9 p.m.

The complainant told lawmen he was resting on a bed when Trotman said to him: “I have to take one for the team.” When asked what he meant by the comment Trotman reportedly asked Sobers if he hadn’t heard that he was on a murder charge, to which he responded “oh”.

Soon after the complainant felt someone jump on the bed. When he looked back Trotman attacked him, placing him in a choke hold. Sobers was able to get away and called for police assistance. He received medical attention.

However, Trotman’s attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson told Magistrate McKenna that based on her instructions the behaviour displayed by her client on December 16 was out of character.

“He has been suffering from some mental issues . . . including post-traumatic stress following the death of his father. According to my instructions this behaviour in recent times is not characteristic of Mr Trotman,” Simpson said.

The defence lawyer also explained that while she was ready to mitigate on her client’s behalf she thought it prudent that a psychological evaluation be conducted on him at the Psychiatric Hospital.

She added: “It appears that something is not right given the statement he made ‘I have to take one for the team’”.

Trotman’s family, the attorney further explained, had also expressed concerns about some of the remarks he had been making within the last few weeks.

“I am of the view that having a report at this time will be in his best interest,” Simpson submitted.

However, the prosecutor stated that such an evaluation could be conducted at the prison.

Magistrate McKenna ordered that the evaluation be done by experts at the St Philip institution and a report be submitted to the Oistins Magistrates’ Court.

Trotman will reappear before her on January 17, 2022 on the assault conviction.

The murder and escape charges have been transferred to the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court for January 13, 2022.

The post Murder-accused to reappear in court in January appeared first on Barbados Today.

When police arrested a 42-year-old man in connection with several criminal matters he stated that he wanted to get caught in order to go to prison.

Today, the accused Kevin Leondre Clarke appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court where he was convicted and sentenced to serve nine months each, on loitering and criminal damage charges. The sentences will run concurrently.

He was also convicted, reprimanded and discharged for breaching the island’s curfew.

Clarke, who is reported as having no fixed place of abode, is also facing the indictable charges of possession of a firearm and three rounds of ammunition on December 14. He was not required to enter pleas when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes.

He will reappear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on January 14, 2022 in connection with the offences.

He however pleaded guilty to loitering on the premises of S.J. Bakery and Health with cause to suspect he was about to commit burglary and to breaching Paragraph 13 Subparagraph (1) of the Emergency Management (COVID-19) Curfew (No. 23) Directive by being outdoors at 2 a.m. when he was not an employee or member of an essential service or person with an emergency.

The offences were also committed on December 14.

With regards to the criminal damage charge Constable Ralph Rollock told the court that Wiseman was at home when he heard what sounded like glass breaking. When he made a check, he saw fragments of glass on the floor and Clarke standing with rocks in his hands. The perpetrator subsequently fled the scene.

On the loitering charge the prosecutor revealed that lawmen on duty at the Black Rock Police Station responded after receiving a report of suspicious activity at the bakery.

On arriving they observed Clarke with a piece of stick attempting to open the door. He attempted to flee but was apprehended. The prosecutor also revealed Clarke told police that he wanted to get caught so he could go to prison.

When asked by Chief Magistrate Weekes whether he had anything to say Clarke first responded: “No.” Moments later he stated: “ Would just like to apologize to the court and all parties involved.”

The post Convict gets his wish appeared first on Barbados Today.

Murder-accused police officer emotional as he walks free With an emotional “thank you, Your Worship”, police officer Everton Randolph Gittens walked out of the Supreme Court Complex on Tuesday afternoon, free of a murder charge that had been hanging over his head for almost seven years.

He was cleared of the controversial killing of Selwyn Blues Knight as well as two other charges in a case that Magistrate Kristie Cuffy- Sargeant described as a “matter of public interest”.

Gittens, who is in his 50s, of Lot 1 Dash Gap, Bank Hall, St Michael, was charged with the March 15, 2015 fatal shooting of Knight; recklessly engaging in conduct which placed Junior Knight, the son of the deceased, in danger of death or serious bodily harm; and unlawfully wounding the younger Knight with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to cause him some serious bodily harm.

Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant ruled in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, which is currently located at the Whitepark Road complex, that based on the evidence outlined the three charges against Gittens “cannot be sustained and … a prima facie case has not been made out by the prosecution”.

“The accused Everton Randolph Gittens is discharged from this court,” she declared.

The testimony of Gittens’ girlfriend, relayed to the court in a summary of the facts read by the magistrate, was that the two were at home on the morning of the incident when she heard a commotion outside the residence and woke her boyfriend.

Acting on what she told him, Gittens got up from bed and looked outside and saw Selwyn and Junior Knight pinning down another man, identified as Jamal Skeete. According to the evidence, Gittens observed the older Knight with a knife and his son with a bottle.

A scuffle among the Knights and Skeete ensued and at one point, Skeete said he was on his back with Selwyn over him making a stabbing motion as he shouted, “don’t kill me, don’t kill me”.

On seeing this, Gittens shouted from his residence: “Police! Drop the knife!”

He then took up his licensed firearm, went outside and shouted to the father and son duo: “Armed police. Drop your weapon!”

He fired his gun in their direction, and they were both shot.

Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant said the prosecution called several witnesses who supported the version of the events described by Gittens.

She explained that based on the evidence before the court, the issue was whether “all the essential ingredients of the offences have been satisfied” and, if so, whether a prima facie case had been made out against the accused in relation to each of the charges.

Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant stressed that where the prosecution fails to prove one of the essential ingredients of the offence, the accused must be acquitted.

Describing the case as a “matter of public interest”, the magistrate said: “There has been a lot of discussion in the public domain about the events that transpired before the accused, Everton Randolph Gittens, came upon the complainants Selwyn Knight and Junior Knight.

It is important to note that when the accused approached the complainants and Jamal Skeete he knew two things – what his girlfriend told him and what he saw when he looked through his window and went outside.”

“The courts must be careful in the exercise of judicial authority not to be bogged down by public discourse in rendering a decision. It is the responsibility of the magistrate to conduct the required research and apply the law to the facts, always bearing in mind that justice must be rendered freely without fear or favour,” she added.

As the magistrate gave her decision on each charge, Gittens, whose hands were clasped behind his back, slowly bowed his head.
“Thank you, Your Worship . . . . Thank you, Ma’am, please to be excused,” he said.

It however took an emotional Gittens several minutes to move from his spot.

“Mr Gittens, you are free to go,” Cuffy- Sargeant informed him, for which he again thanked the magistrate before taking a handkerchief from his back pocket, wiping his upper face and quietly exiting the court.

When asked by reporters outside the court for a reaction, Gittens gave no reply as he left the compound.
Knight’s widow and son were not present for the decision.

Gittens was represented by attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens while police prosecutor in the matter was Assistant Superintendent Trevor Blackman.

fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb

The post Policeman walks free from charge of civilian’s fatal shooting appeared first on Barbados Today.

The failure of a St Michael man to follow procedure has landed him on remand at Dodds for the Yuletide season.

When Oneil Ricardo Riley’s matter was being dealt with, it appeared that the Goddings Road, Station Hill, St Michael resident did not understand that his failure to attend court after his release from Dodds back in March had landed him back at the St Philip facility.

Riley, who is facing a November 30, 2011 charge of assault with intent to rape a woman, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court after a warrant of arrest had been issued for him.

He said he turned up for court after a marshall had contacted him.

Riley explained that he left jail on March 19 and suffered a stroke. He claimed that, on his release, he had asked prison officials about a date to attend court and was told that the court would contact him.

The Chief Magistrate queried whether Riley had approached the court immediately after his release, or on the days and months subsequently, to which he replied: “No please, Sir.”

Weekes told him: “I must be able to find you, so I will bring you back in January. There is a procedure to be followed. You did not follow procedure. When you are ill, bring in the document. You cannot expect to walk around, having left prison, ignoring the court.”

The accused, who had been on $10,000 bail, then exited the dock and made for the door, prompting the Chief Magistrate to ask, “Where are you going?”

After a policeman stopped Riley, the magistrate told him: “You are remanded. . . . I went through all of that to tell you, you didn’t turn up and you think you gine home?”

Riley’s pleas to remain on bail were denied.

He will reappear before the Chief Magistrate on January 17, 2022.

The post Assault accused remanded to prison after failing to show up at court appeared first on Barbados Today.

Two women are each on $25,000 bail after appearing in court on cannabis charges.

They are Brianna Moesha Mapp, a 20-year-old vendor from St Christopher, Main Road, Christ Church, and Shonte Taitianna Clarke, a 22-year-old receptionist from Thompson Road, Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, St Michael.

Mapp is accused of possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking in, and importation of the drug; while Clarke is charged with trafficking in the illegal substance.

The offences were allegedly committed on December 17.

The drugs weighed 9.80 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of $78,400.

Both women pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court located at St Joseph.

There were no objections to bail from prosecutor Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls and the two secured their pre-trial liberty after their sureties were accepted by the court.

Mapp, who is represented by Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley, and Clarke, who has Andrew Willoughby as her legal counsel, are expected to reappear before the court on April 25, 2022.

The post Women bailed on drug charges appeared first on Barbados Today.

A well digger and a general worker, separately accused of wantonly entering the premises of the Barbados Port Inc, are back home just in time for the holidays after spending several weeks on remand at Dodds prison.

David Oneal Willoughby, 47, of Fairy Valley, Christ Church and Rashad Akeem Mathurin, 26, of Bibby’s Gap Hall’s Road, St Michael were released on bail today following applications by their attorney Shadia Simpson.

Mathurin, the general worker and Willoughby are also separately charged with having in their possession a ratchet, a wire cutter, ten sockets and an extension bar for use in connection with theft when they were was not at their place of abode on August 24.

They are further separately charged with possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply and trafficking in the illegal substance as well as knowingly handled the drug which was intended by them or some other person to supply.

The two have maintained their innocence of the charges.

When they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes this afternoon in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court the prosecution maintained its objections to bail for the men.

However, Simpson urged the court to exercise its discretion in her clients’ favour.

With relation to Mathurin, the defence lawyer explained that when he was remanded in November his hand was broken in one place. “Now it is broken it two places, following an attack at the prison,” she said.

Simpson told the court that her client was also hurt in his left eye and now would have to undergo operations not only on his hand, but on the eye area as well. She explained that he was at a “major disadvantage” at the prison.

The lawyer urged the court to grant Mathurin bail as he had no prior convictions, had a suitable surety and was willing to adhere to any conditions imposed.

Regarding Willoughby, Simpson said he was a small businessman and had been on remand for the past four months.

“And still the matter has not advanced. He has a young daughter and her greatest wish for Christmas is for him to be at home,” she added.

Simpson further submitted that the amount of time her client had spent on remand with respect to one of the charges could be seen as equivalent to a sentence given the penalty attached under the law.

Chief Magistrate Weekes granted both accused bail in the sum of $8 000 each with one surety. Bail came with conditions however. Willoughby must report to the Oistins Police Station on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – before 1 p.m. while Mathurin has to report to Central Police Station every Wednesday by 1 p.m.

Both men are also on a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

They are scheduled to reappear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on July 6, 2022.

Before that date Mathurin has to appear before Chief Magistrate Weekes on January 28, 2022 in connection with another matter.

The post Accused in Port authority case get to spend Christmas at home appeared first on Barbados Today.

A murder charge against accused Michael Anthony Brathwaite has been downgraded to manslaughter.

The 49-year-old of Storey Gap, Codrington Hill, St Michael had been charged with murdering Roland Francis on May 24, 2020.

However, when his matter was called before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, Station Sergeant Crishna Graham revealed that the charge had been reduced and the prosecution was serving the accused with disclosure for his committal proceedings.

Brathwaite’s case will resume on January 19, 2022.

The post Charge downgraded appeared first on Barbados Today.

Convicted thief Corey Omar Jerome McCollin will spend nine months in jail for stealing from a City warehouse.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes today sentenced the 36-year-old, of Block 9E Ivy Housing Area, St Michael after he asked to change his plea on a theft charge.

He admitted to being the one who entered Kazi Warehouse between November 11 and 13 and stole 48 bedsheets, six mattress covers and ten shower curtains totaling $2 700 belonging to Abdul Sadik Kazi.

The complainant secured his property leaving the items intact, Sergeant Verdon Forde told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this afternoon. When Kazi returned for the items he discovered a number of torn boxes and his merchandise missing. The matter was reported.

McCollin was apprehended after CCTV showed him leaving the business with a duffle bag.

He told police he sold the items and used the money to purchase drinks, food and drugs.

“I am sorry. I asking the court for leniency,” said the convict who is known to the court. He added that he would like to be assessed to get a chance at Verdun House. But he later admitted that he had squandered a prior chance at rehabilitation back in 2016.

The post Bedding thief jailed appeared first on Barbados Today.

A vendor and a fisherman were released on bail today after spending six nights on remand at Dodds.

Jacqueline Norgrove, 52, and Akeem Omar Norgrove, 28, both of Scarborough, Christ Church are accused of assaulting Daina James on December 15, occasioning her actual bodily harm.

They are also accused of damaging a pair of glasses belonging to James without lawfully excuse, intending to damage such property or was reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

The two, who are represented by attorneys-at-law Michael Lashley Q.C. and Sada Harris have denied the charges leveled against them.

When they reappeared before Magistrate Deidre McKenna in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court today, Station Sergeant Peter Barrow did not renew his objections to bail and the accused were granted $2 500 bail.

They have been given a March 15, 2022 court date for the matters to continue.

In the meantime they have been warned to stay away from the complainant in the matter.

The post Assault case set for March appeared first on Barbados Today.

Unruly behaviour in the public transport sector will not be tolerated by the law courts.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes sent that stern message on Thursday when he remanded two men, one of them a route taxi driver, to Dodds until January 12, 2022.

Driver Shamon Alan Justin Lowe, 24, of President Kennedy Drive, St Michael and car washer Dario Jamar Cheltenham, 28, of Phillips Road, St Stephens Hill, Black Rock, St Michael, were sent to the St Philip penal institution after pleading guilty to assaulting Ramon Marshall on December 22, 2021.

The court heard from police officer Ralph Rollock that Lowe and Marshall are route taxi drivers who ply the Bridgetown-Redman Village, St Thomas route. They would overtake each other at intervals which eventually resulted in the two blocking each other’s path.

Around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Marshall was sitting in his vehicle at the bus terminal when Lowe opened the door, grabbed his shirt and pulled him out of the vehicle as he uttered the words: “You won’t stop doing c**t around me.”

Cheltenham who was present also cuffed Marshall in his stomach while Lowe armed himself with a cutlass and slapped the complainant on his upper arm.

The matter was reported to the police.

Cheltenham said: “The reason why I cuff the driver in the belly is because he hit me with the van. He pull the van at me in the van stand. I wait till he park the van and cuff he in he belly. He get to the police before me.”

Lowe, meanwhile, explained that he had recently acquired a licence to operate PSVs and for the past three days Marshall had been “doing reckless driving towards me”.

“I ignored him from Sunday. He pulling his van at my van, braking on me and then driving off. I ignored him,” explained Lowe who claimed that he felt threatened.

He said while driving along Thorpes Road, he and Marshall passed each other several times picking up passengers. But Lowe said when Marshall realized his van was full “he started driving recklessly”.

“I genuinely apologise for my actions. I was provoked to do what I did,” Lowe added.

The Chief Magistrate was not impressed.

“Wunna ‘bout here doing foolishness and putting people’s lives in danger. Wunna cannot turn Barbados into the Wild Wild West. You all seem to have no behaviour. The people who raised wunna seem not to have taught you all social skills. This kind of ridiculous behaviour in this sector will not be tolerated,” he declared.

He then queried whether the two accused had lodged a complaint with the police about Marshall before taking their course of action.

The men replied: “No.”

Magistrate Weekes reiterated that “this kind of unruly behaviour will not be tolerated in this place”.

“Too many times we are getting complaints about this kind of behaviour in this sector. You both are remanded pending sentence,” he ruled.

On hearing the magistrate’s decision, Lowe pleaded for leniency and to be given a chance.

But Weekes said: “A message must be sent to those in this sector. Mob rule will not be tolerated. Instead of going to the police . . . you all decided that you all will go for him. Wunna want to take over the streets with this wild bush behaviour. No!”

The post ‘Unruly’ ZR driver and car washer on remand until next month appeared first on Barbados Today.

A St George man has been ordered to stay away from his estranged wife until charges levelled against him are determined by the law courts.

Andre Ricardo Barrow, of Carmichael Land, is accused of assaulting Kelly-ann Barrow and her mother Yvette Yearwood on December 19, causing them actual bodily harm.

He is further alleged to have wounded police officer Andre Armstrong and resisted the lawman as he executed his duties on the mentioned date, and damaging a shirt belonging to the Crown.

Barrow was not required to enter a plea to any of the charges as they were allegedly committed in the District ‘B’ Boarded Hall jurisdiction.

When it came time for bail to be considered, Station Sergeant Peter Barrow expressed concern that one of the charges before the court involved the accused’s wife and that, according to the charge sheet, the two resided at the same address.

He said: “As we all know, the issue of domestic violence is always a concern. The prosecution does not want the accused to leave here and return to the dwelling and it escalates into something more serious.”

The prosecutor said that according to the information received, the offence occurred in the presence of an officer who was injured.

“That is an aggravating factor,” Station Sergeant Barrow submitted.

Adding that it was his understanding that there were children involved, he said an intermediary should be put in place to deal with situations involving them.

Magistrate McKenna echoed the concern and asked the accused whether he had somewhere else he could reside in the interim.

“This is 13 to 14 months since we have been separated,” Barrow said. “We don’t live together anymore. I live with my father.”

Satisfied with that arrangement, the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of
$4 000 with one surety and ordered him to stay away from both complainants. He must also continue to reside with his father until the matter is determined, while his sister will act as the go-between with regard to the children.

Barrow’s matters were then adjourned to December 30 when he will appear in the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court at Horse Hill, St Joseph.

The post Barrow accused of assaulting estranged wife appeared first on Barbados Today.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes on Tuesday found himself presented with “an interesting state of affairs” when a robbery accused, for whom a police prosecutor objected to bail, appeared in court after being diagnosed with a scabies infection.

Davidson Cleutus Joseph was released on bail, but the magistrate suggested that an electronic monitoring bracelet would have been ideal in the circumstances, as he could not take the risk of having Joseph check in at a police station as a condition of his bail.

Joseph is accused of committing three robberies. The first offence occurred on July 5 when the 40-year-old allegedly robbed Cherylann Clarke of a $450 cellular phone and a $60 purse containing $120 cash.

He is further alleged to have robbed Ainslie Hastie, on December 16, of a $1 000 cellular phone, a $350 handbag and $245 cash; and Clair Smart, on the same day, of a handbag, a driver’s licence, a charger, a packet of razors, a pack of popcorn, three lipsticks, $65 cash and a pair of sunglasses worth $754.50.

Joseph, who is represented by attorneys-at-law Michael Lashley QC and Sade Harris, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police Constable Ralph Rollock objected to bail, despite the fact that the accused was given station bail due to a medical condition.

The prosecutor said his objections were also based on the seriousness of the charges, adding that two of the offences are alleged to have been committed against visitors to the island.

Rollock said: “The accused has antecedents that indicate that he has a propensity for these types of activities, a number of antecedents of a similar nature.”

In his application for bail, Lashley claimed that his client had a “good defence”. He also revealed that his client, who had been in police custody for several days, had to seek medical treatment three times and was also hospitalised.

“I told the investigators that he should not be interviewed or interrogated given the state that he was in, and [he] could hardly walk ….,” Lashley said as it was disclosed the accused had been diagnosed with scabies.

The attorney also raised concern about sending the accused to the St Philip penal facility at this time, given his medical condition, adding that “even with the pandemic we have to be extremely cautious”.

“The police made an order to have his sister come and bathe him,” Lashley added.

Chief Magistrate Weekes questioned whether Joseph had been cleared by doctors, to which the reply was ‘yes’. However, there was no medical documentation to confirm this.

“This is 2021. We have to do better than this. This is not 1960, this is nearly 2022. This is not novel to this era. This is an issue that occurs all around the Commonwealth,” said Weekes. “And what of all these people that he came into contact with? Anybody got checked? I hope the police got checked.”

Although noting that the charges against Joseph were “very, very serious matters” and “there is a certain level of consistency with the allegations”, the Chief Magistrate said this was “an exceptional case”.

“This is a most interesting state of affairs. I will exercise my discretion in his favour. I have to balance the interest of [all parties] but I am going to keep him on a very short leash. I also cannot expose him to the police in terms of reporting to a station,” he said.

“This is where the electronic bracelet would come in handy,” the magistrate added as he imposed a weekend curfew on Joseph.

The accused must be indoors 6 p.m. on Fridays until 6 a.m. on Mondays. He has also been prohibited from venturing to the south coast from Hastings to Maxwell as well as the west coast from Paynes Bay to Port Ferdinand.

The accused was granted $8 000 bail with one surety, and ordered to return before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on January 25, 2022.

At that time, he must present the court with a medical clearance certificate.

The post Magistrate grants bail to robbery accused diagnosed with infection appeared first on Barbados Today.

Getting booted out of the Verdun Rehabilitation Programme and failing to attend court has resulted in a St Michael man being remanded to prison.

Mason Hall Street resident Rohan Ricardo Levi Arthur appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes on Tuesday afternoon charged with assaulting Anthony Wharton on December 20.

Police Constable Ralph Rollock, in reading the facts, revealed that Arthur had walked up to Wharton and hit him with a bottle.

“We had high words, he provoked me and I did respond,” Arthur told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

He was placed on a bond for six months to keep the peace and be on his best behaviour. If he breaches that order, he will have to pay the court a $1 500 fine forthwith or spend three months in prison.

It was also at that time that it was discovered he was no longer in the rehabilitation programme that he was placed in, in connection with a prior offence.

“I pleaded guilty to that already, that is how I get to go Verdun House,” Arthur said, to which Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes informed him that leaving Verdun House was a breach of his bail.

“I don’t want to go back to jail no more. I want a break,” the convicted man told Weekes.

“Three of four times I went to jail last year and I don’t want to do that no more. I don’t tell no lies,” he added.

Arthur then went on to tell the court that he had prior charges to which he wanted to plead guilty.

“I will deal with all one time,” he said, adding, “I will plead guilty one time, I can get lost way in jail or get a bond to keep the peace. I tired of all this. This back and forth all this time. I tired of jail.”

Arthur will reappear before Chief Magistrate Weekes on January 15 when the court is expected to adjudicate his pending charges.

The post St Michael man remanded appeared first on Barbados Today.

Dangerous and reckless business!

That’s how Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes has described the actions of a man who admitted to breaking into his former girlfriend’s home because he believed that she was entertaining another man.

And the loud crying of Decourcey Alexander Smith from Jackson, St Michael was not enough to prevent him from being sent to Dodds Prison on remand.

The 41-year-old driver pleaded guilty to entering the house of Shelly-Ann Hall as a trespasser on Christmas Day with intent to commit bodily harm.

Officer Ralph Rollock disclosed that the two were previously in a relationship. On December 25, she was at home with a male friend when they heard sounds of someone pulling at the doors, windows and then walking towards the back of the house. As the police were being notified of what was happening via telephone those inside heard the sounds of footsteps in the house. A check was made and Smith was found. He fled but was caught not far from the residence.

In explaining his actions to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court Smith said: “I just went to the house. I get as far as the back door and say what I was doing was wrong. What I did on that night was wrong. If I have to pay her back for what I did to the house I will pay her.”

Weekes queried why Smith had ventured to the woman’s house uninvited when the relationship was over.

He replied: “Me and she was still talking. I brought her a phone for Christmas. She tell me, me and she finish but we can still be friends. I brought the phone for her because she did a lot for me.”

He would eventually admit that he went to Hall’s residence because he believed that she had someone else there and he was jealous.

“Why are you all men so obsessed with the women. Why can’t you all just move on?” Chief Magistrate Weekes queried.

“When one is finished you move on. I don’t understand why you are sneaking about. That cannot help your heart. This is dangerous and reckless business,” the judicial officer added.

Hall, who was also present, addressed the court. She revealed that whenever Smith uses alcohol he acts “stupid”.

“Without alcohol he is the sweetest person, always willing to help.”

But Magistrate Weekes expressed concerns about the situation.

“I have major concerns with him checking to see whether a man was in your place. I think sometimes you all have to come to grips with reality.”

He added: “This is a serious matter . . . sometimes we need to take a time-out . . . I am very concerned about this. This is madness.”

“Wunna don’t love wunna self first. Wunna rushing into a fire to find out whether there is another man in the house? Pull yourself together and get some counseling.

“Men need to get away from other men that figure it could be solved with a drink. Emotions will not be solved with any drink. Emotions will be solved by having a conversation with a professional. It does not mean that you are mad. But you can find a counsellor, anybody like that to talk to. You all need to pull yourselves together and move on.

“This idea of men constantly coming to court and wunna getting wunna self in jail behind these women is not worth it.”

Weekes reiterated that the situation was a dangerous one. Smith said he understood but explained that he did not threaten the woman.

But the magistrate made it clear that Smith “had no right” at the residence.

“If the other man had caught you God only knows what could have happened . . . anything could have happened.

“Wunna got to stop this nonsense tho’. Love wunna self first, [not] this obsession with women . . .”

Smith was then remanded pending sentencing. When he was told that he would return before the magistrate on January 26, 2022 he began to cry loudly as he was led away by a police officer.

The post Christmas check on ex-lover lands man on remand appeared first on Barbados Today.

Young people are seemingly “living under the Hollywood tree” with no appreciation for hard work, this island’s Chief Magistrate has surmised.

He made the observation as he dealt with a case in which a teenager stole his sister’s meeting turn money and got the assistance of his friend to rob his grandmother while she was walking in a public place,  so he could “look clean and hard” for Christmas.

On his first charge Kevon Kurt Rahim Sealy, 19, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty to stealing $400 cash belonging to his sister Kyera Sealy on December 21.

But it was the charge that he, along with Kadeem Jason Phillips, 21, of Lascelles Terrace, St Michael robbed his grandmother Patricia Sealy of a number of items worth $4 103 including $600 cash the same day, that raised eyebrows in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this afternoon when the facts were read by Police Constable Ralph Rollock.

His grandmother was walking towards the pavilion in the Lascelles Terrace, Pinelands area accompanied by another grandson when two men walked up to them, one of whom she identified as Kevon. He snatched her handbag while Phillips prevented the other grandson from helping her. The thieves ran off.

Explaining his actions, Kevon, who disclosed that he had been living on the block, said: “That night I was on drugs. I buy a shirt, a pants and some food.”

Phillips meanwhile explained that he had known Kevon for most of his life. He said at the time of the robbery he was “stressed” as he was not working and his grandmother was “pressuring” him for money because he was “eating and not contributing”

“I just do a foolish decision,” he admitted.

He said he “assisted” even though he knew it was his partner’s grandmother that was being robbed that night.

“At that point I wasn’t thinking,” he told the court.

In relation to the charge involving Kyera Sealy, the hearing heard how she received the money and secured it but later discovered that it was missing. She confronted Kevon who admitted to taking the money and said he would repay her. The sibling however reported the matter to police.

“I plan to pay her back as soon as possible, next two weeks or so,” Kevon said as he also admitted that his grandmother had put him out.

He added: “I was broke for Christmas . . .and everybody want to look decent. I wanted a shirt and pants to look decent, to look clean and hard.”

However the magistrate stated that while Kevon was being honest he was also lacking sense.

“You want to look good? You all will continue to live under the Hollywood tree. When I was 19, if I didn’t have it, I didn’t have it. You all are caught up in this Hollywood thing.

“Let’s hope you can pay her back and remedy this relationship. Christmas is about the Christ Child. It is about family and you ruptured your family to look good for Christmas,” Weekes stated.

“This is the level of folly you get from some young people. Two of wunna is two comedians. Wunna had a real ball this Christmas and wunna just cool that is what got me.

“Your grandmother worked hard for what is hers. Your sister got the meeting turn because she put something in it and is entitled. This generation is something else. Some young people don’t seem to appreciate that hard work is why a lot of people are successful. All you all do is complain.

“All of you are saying how stressed you are . . . you all have no understanding of the consequences. I don’t think you all appreciate the hard work of others.

“Two good partners, wunna ain’t going to be out this Ole Year’s Night,” Weekes stated as he told Kevon to ponder on how sisters and grandmothers are to be treated while Phillips was told that he needed to learn about some friendships.

The two were remanded to Dodds until January 26 next year when they will be sentenced.

The post Teen robs his grandmother, sister appeared first on Barbados Today.

This island’s Chief Magistrate has chastised some parents for “unleashing” their children on society after failing to instill strong values in them.

He leveled the criticism as he dealt with the case of 18-year-old Xavier Lamar Ka-Shawn Johnson who admitted to stealing three electronic devices that were gifted to some young people to assist with their online learning.

The young farmer from Gall Hill, St John pleaded guilty in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to stealing two laptops and a tablet worth $2,520, belonging to the Crown, on Christmas Eve.

Police Constable Ralph Rollock disclosed that the accused had a habit of visiting the area where the devices were located. The items were reported missing and when he was questioned about it he admitted to taking them.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes granted a restitution order for the devices, which were recovered, to be returned.

In explaining his actions, Johnson said: “I wasn’t really myself and I am not that kind of person. I am not a thief.”

Asked what possessed him to commit the offence, the teenager replied: “I was going through a phase, little problems . . . [I] was getting little problems with my grandmother.”

Magistrate Weekes then criticised some of the island’s youth who he said knew nothing about sacrifice.

“The word sacrifice is what is missing from some young people today…. You have a sense of entitlement. They ain’t to do no chores, they are not to join any disciplinary organizations like the Cadets or Scouts – they are entitled.

“Wunna sit down and watch 50 Cent and all of these superstars, whether in sports or entertainment, and wunna feel wunna entitled to drive a BMW. I want you all to understand something — those who view Rihanna must understand that she has to work to maintain that empire she has and while she may hire people, she still has to do the physical work in the meetings, she still has to do the physical appearances and all of those things. So these myths that you all have, wunna got to get rid of them,” he advised.

Weekes also addressed Johnson’s stepfather who was present in court and had asked the court to give the youngster “a break, not a complete break but something besides jail time, some sort of probation”.

The judicial officer said some parents were falling short of their responsibilities when it came to instilling discipline in their charges — a situation he said troubled him.

“You see the young people, wunna running them in the ground, wunna ain’t got no discipline for them. A lot of parents are falling short. You all are not doing wunna jobs, but every time wunna children get caught in the system it is we who have to be sacrificing. Wunna ain’t doing nothing. So give him probation and give him community service so that wunna can go about your business.

“I would like to charge some of wunna parents . . . because wunna ain’t doing no work. Wunna unleashing these people without any value system on us. Then when we sit and listen to the news and hear that there was another murder or robbery, wunna going to be the first in the rum shop to talk about ‘these young people’, not remembering that wunna ain’t instill nothing in them. So what do we expect to come out of them? We got to have some foundation,” he added as he referred Johnson to a probation officer who was present in court.

The convicted thief now has to perform 200 hours of community service for his crime. In the meantime, he is on $1,500 bail and must reappear before Magistrate Weekes on April 1, 2022.

The post Chief Magistrate criticises parents for failing to guide children appeared first on Barbados Today.

The issue of violence against women had the attention of the law courts for a second successive day as the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court heard how a 55-year-old man assaulted a female he was involved with.

Adrian Daniel Skeete, of Codrington Road, Stuart Hill, St John, reappeared before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after spending a 28-day stint on remand. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Yvrose Taylor on November 27, causing her harm.

The court heard from Police Constable Ralph Rollock that the two had been in a relationship for four years. On November 27, Skeete saw Taylor walking along Fairchild Street in the area known as ‘Vincy Town’, and asked her why she had not been answering her cellular phone.

Skeete became aggressive and tried to block Taylor’s path. She eventually left but he caught up with her and questioned her again. Skeete then slapped the woman in the face, held her by the neck and bit her on her inner left bicep. Taylor was able to get away and reported the matter to the police.

In mitigating on Skeete’s behalf, attorney-at-law Mohia Ma’at informed the court that his client, an avid road tennis player, was a first-time offender who was gainfully employed.

He further stated that Skeete had already spent 28 days on remand and three days in police custody in connection with the offence. Also in the convicted man’s favour, the defence attorney said, was that he did not use a weapon in committing the offence.

“My instructions are that the parties had a little beverage that day – the now convicted man and the complainant,” Ma’at said. “I would like the court to consider that he is a first-time offender and has 55 years of good character, but he made an error. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and . . . did not waste the court’s time. Now he is facing a strike against his name for assault.”

Ma’at urged the court to take all those factors into consideration in contemplating the sentence. He suggested that his client be reprimanded and discharged.

“Not happening here,” Chief Magistrate Weekes responded.

“This man put his hands on a woman and you are telling me reprimand and discharge? Not in relation to putting his hands on a woman. You’re telling me to slap him on the back and let him go ahead. The nature of the offence is such that you can’t consider any reprimand and discharge.”

But Ma’at reiterated that Skeete had already spent 28 days on remand and again pointed to the other mitigating factors. The lawyer then requested that a presentencing report be done before any punishment was handed down.

The Chief Magistrate agreed to that submission and ordered Skeete to reappear on July 6, 2022, for sentencing.

However, Weekes expressed concern about men assaulting women.

“This culture continues to develop in this place where men do not seem to understand that [they are] in relationships with adults. So you can’t tell the woman she got to answer the phone when you call and all of that. That is madness. What is wrong with your brains? This is not the 18th century . . . . You all got to stop this nonsense,” he said.

Ma’at was quick to point out that the reverse also happens but men were not coming forward to report such abuse.

His client has other legal troubles, however, as he has to make another court appearance on two other charges.

Skeete denied damaging a cellular phone and a pair of glasses belonging to Junika Taylor as well as assaulting her causing actual bodily harm, on November 27.

He is on $4,000 bail, in the meantime, and has been warned to stay away from the complainants.

The post Skeete to await punishment for assaulting woman appeared first on Barbados Today.

St Michael resident Dario Delisle Flatts, remains on remand at Dodds even though he was offered bail.

That’s because the 23-year-old groom from Block I2 Field Place, Bayville has to reassure the court of his new address.

Station Sergeant Crishna Graham submitted that Flatts, who is facing three criminal offences, should relocate from his current address.

And although he had someone, who was accepted by the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, to sign the $8 000 bail offered to him, the family member at whose residence he is expected to live was not present.

“The prosecution would like the aunt to come to the court to verify that Flatts will be living with her,” the prosecutor said.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes ruled that the family member needed to confirm with the court that she was willing to let the accused reside with her. “You will have to hold on until we can confirm with the aunt,” Weekes said.

If he satisfies that condition, Flatts, who has been on remand since November last year, will also then have to adhere to a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew on his release. He must also sign in at Central Police Station every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by 11 a.m. with valid identification.

Flatts is accused of entering the house of Carl Greenidge as a trespasser on October 12, 2020 and stealing $7 000 in cash. It is claimed that he had a knife at the time.  The young man is further alleged to have assaulted the homeowner on the same day with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to do some other serious bodily harm to him.

He cannot plead to the indictable charges before the Magistrates’ Court.

Flatts is also facing a March 2, 2019 charge of assaulting Rodney Jackman.

The post Magistrate wants aunt to confirm accused’s living arrangements appeared first on Barbados Today.

A young Jamaican man who admitted stealing to assist his mother with the rent, has been told that he “cannot come to the people’s place and get yourself in trouble”.

Chief Magistrate made the statement this afternoon to 19-year-old Cedric George Anthony Prussia, of Hinds Road, Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, St Michael.

Prussia, who said he had been in Barbados for the past three months, pleaded guilty to entering the house of Fayola Murray on Christmas Eve and stealing BDS$600 cash, a bag, a purse, J$400 and $50 in jewelry.

Police Constable Ralph Rollock told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that the complainant and other persons rent rooms at a property. Murray secured her property and left the residence but on her return found them missing. Prussia was interviewed in connection with the offence and admitted to being the culprit.

“I am guilty sir,” he told Weekes as he addressed the court on his reason for committing the offence.

He added: “I apologise to the lady sir and I got my mother here with me.”

“The reason is, me and my mother got notice, she couldn’t pay the rent and she was stressing sir. I was trying to get a job and they send me to get vaccinated. She [Murray] said if my mother is willing to pay back the $700 she will just squash it. I got my mother here she will pay my plane ticket for me . . . I wish to go back.”

However, Weekes asked the accused, unless he was qualified and fell into the category of skilled CARICOM worker, “What job can you get in the six months you are here?”. The young man did not give an answer.

Prussia’s mother who was in court was asked whether she had the $700 to repay the complainant for that “foolishness” that her son had gotten into. The woman said she had $600 as that was the amount she had previously been told and asked whether she could pay the balance later. She said she got the money from her boyfriend.

The money was paid and Prussia will return to the court on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 to settle the balance.

In the meantime he is on $1 500 bail following no objections from the prosecution and a stern warning from the court.

The post Mom pays up for teenaged son appeared first on Barbados Today.