Egg vendor allegedly stabs, kills man with fish bone

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James egg vendor who reportedly stabbed a man to death during an altercation was offered bail in the sum of $300,000 when she appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court last Friday.

Thirty-two-year-old Cassandra Noble of a Mount Salem address in Montego Bay is facing a murder charge arising from an incident in which Rashawn Rose of Barrett Town, also in St James, was killed.

Reports are that on the night of December 22, 2012, Noble was at her stall, located at the Old Shoe Market on St James Street, when she sold a boiled egg to Rose.

During the transaction, a dispute arose between the two and Noble reportedly stabbed Rose with a fish bone. Rose was later pronounced dead at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

In making a bail application on behalf of Noble, attorney-at-law Lambert Johnson told the court that his client had been assaulted first by the deceased and had acted in self-defence.

"As usual, she (Noble) was selling on the street and on this occasion, she was approached by the gentleman," Johnson explained to Resident Magistrate Wilson Smith. "The gentleman asked for a boiled egg. He (Rose) said he had no money and was going to change his money, he subsequently took out J$1,000 and gave it to her."

"She was taking up her bucket and the man hit her in her face, and as she turned, she felt something hit her in her back," continued Johnson. "Her hand caught something in her bucket and she took it out and used it to defend herself."

"This is a very serious case … . Does she have any previous convictions?" asked RM Smith.

"No, sir," replied Johnson.

During the hearing, the prosecution revealed that its case file was not complete as the post-mortem report was not yet ready.

"Bail is offered to Miss Noble in the sum of $300,000 with two sureties, and she will report at the Mount Salem Police Station every Monday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.," said RM Smith. "The investigating officer is bound over to complete the file."

The matter will return for mention on February 21.