The St Mary Parish Court on Thursday, September 21 saw several interesting cases being called up.
The cases ranged from a woman denying charges of stealing electricity, to a man being fined $15,000 for stealing light and a man stabbing another to the left side of his face.
The alleged light thieves
Several person who appeared before court appeared on charges of illegally abstracting electricity.
None was more dramatic than Marcia Grant, who pleaded not guilty to abstracting electricity. An illegal connection was reportedly found at a premise in the Port Maria area. When asked by parish court judge Yvette Miller if she did not know anything about the illegal connection, Grant sought to explain that she resided in Boscobel and had only come to the area to visit. She contended that she moved from the area and did not know about the illegal connection.
When she was told by the judge to sit in court and think some more on the matter, a seemingly saddened and distressed Grant took her seat.
When her case was recalled, Grant was pleaded again and she maintained that she was not guilty. A statement from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) representative remains outstanding on the case file. A trial date of October 26 was later set in the matter.
HE IS GUILTY
In another case related to light theft, the accused man, 28-year-old Michael Smith pleaded guilty and was fined $15,000 or 10 days in prison.
Allegations are that on August 14 at about 1:50 p.m. in Rio Nuevo, St Mary a length of wire was observed attached to the JPS secondary line. This was traced to the house of Smith where a radio was connected illegally.
Another accused person, Shanique Martin, also charged for abstracting electricity pleaded not guilty and had her bail extended for November 9.
Not guilty to stabbing man in face
A man, who was brought before the courts on a wounding charge, has denied the prosecution’s claims.
Dane Fletcher pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously stabbing a man to the left side of his face during an argument.
The case file is not ready for trial as a medical certificate remains outstanding. The matter was set for mention on November 16 as a result.
Fined for ganja
A man, who claimed that a pound of ganja found in his possession was for household purposes, was also before the courts.
Junior Edwards pleaded guilty to possession of one pound of ganja and was fined $2,400 or ten days imprisonment.
However, Edwards pleaded not guilty to dealing in ganja and that matter was set for trial on February 1.
