Man remanded after friends threaten complainant

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A construction worker from King Street in Montego Bay, St James, was remanded in police custody after the complainant in his wounding matter told the court that he had been threatened by the defendant's friends.

Thirty-four-year-old Peter Minott pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding against Linvald Williamson and one count of malicious destruction of property against Michelle Sargent. He appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Allegations are that on September 13, Williamson and Sargent were at the popular Dump Up Beach in Montego Bay when an altercation developed between them and Minott.

It is said that Minott reportedly damaged Sargent's radio and injured Williamson, although the nature of the complainant's injuries was not outlined.

Williamson told the court that both Minott and his friends had recently sent him threatening messages via telephone, despite Minott being in police custody.

"He (Minott) has been calling me from the jail and his friends have been calling me and threatening me," Williamson told Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small.

But Minott flatly denied Williamson's assertions.

"That is not true because the only persons I am allowed to call are my parents, and up to now I don't get a call," the defendant declared.

Wong-Small ordered Minott to be held in remand and his fingerprints to be taken by the police. She also ordered that his criminal records be brought and a legal-aid lawyer be assigned to him.

The case will be brought back before the court on October 10.