CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – BERNARD PATRICK of St. Kitts and of Taylor’s Pasture, Gingerland was fined $750 on Tuesday (Oct. 13) when he appeared in the Charlestown Magistrate’s Court to answer charges of obstructing an officer of the law in the line of duty and resisting arrest.
Patrick, also called Bal J, pleaded guilty to both offences committed on Saturday, August 22, 2009 in Charlestown. He explained that his actions were as a result of the way the police officer held him.
He was fined $250 on the obstruction charge and must pay up within a month or spend a similar time in prison. On the charge of resisting arrest, he was fined $500 to be paid within three months or he will go to jail for a month.
In that same court, Andre Browne of Old Manor Estate, Gingerland pleaded guilty to three traffic related charges. Browne was charged with driving an unlicensed vehicle, driving without a valid driver’s license and driving without insurance at Rawlins’, Gingerland on Sunday, July 12, 2009.
Magistrate Yasmine Clarke convicted and cautioned Browne on the first charge and fined him $300 and $500 respectively on the others. He has pay up in three months or spend one month in prison.
Viola Richards of Stoney Grove also appeared to answer minor traffic charges. She was charged for driving without insurance and driving without being a holder of a license on Sunday, July 12, 2009.
Richards pleaded not guilty but the prosecution produced two witnesses who testified that they were in the vicinity of the Charlestown High School when they saw Richards come out of the gas station with two bags of ice and headed to her vehicle which was parked in the grounds below the school. The witnesses, head of the Nevis Traffic Department Sergeant Hazel and a driving tutor known as Danny, both noted that the defendant jumped in her vehicle and headed in the direction of the school.
Richards was found guilty on both counts. She was cautioned on the insurance charge and fined $500 on the other. She was given three months to pay the fine or spend a month behind bars.
Magistrate Clarke reminded the defendant that the law gives her the right to prevent her from ever getting a license, but she would give her the chance to try and get hers. The Magistrate also warned her not to commit such act again.
