St. Paul’s Man Acquitted of Charges
By Suelika N. Buchanan
~~Adz:Left~~ (Basseterre; St. Kitts): William Belle of St. Paul’s was acquitted by His Lordship Francis Belle after his case was heard on charges of Causing Grievous Bodily Harm and Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm.
The case began yesterday, Monday Oct. 29 at the Basseterre High Court, in the Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore Judicial Complex.
The virtual complainant in the matter was Colin Rawlins of Main Street, St. Pauls, and he was the first witness called to testify by the Prosecution.
However, in his testimony, Rawlins said that when he went to Sylvie’s Bar in St. Paul’s on October, 20, 2004 all he wanted to do was buy a drink of “Hammond” for his friend.
He said that the accused refused to sell him the drink and “ran” him out of the shop. In the process of running Rawlins out of the shop, the accused stepped outside the shop and pushed him.
Rawlins said that his right hand was injured as a result of a fall he sustained after being pushed.
During the cross-examination, Defense Counsel Karl Liburd questioned Rawlins on whether he was drinking that night.
“So you didn’t have a bottle and smashed the bottle when you got inside the bar?” the Lawyer questioned.
Rawlins answered with an emphatic “no”.
Liburd then said to Rawlins that the accused ran him out the shop after he smashed the bottle.
The Defence Counsel also stated that the accused only pushed Rawlins after the plaintiff threw some dirty rain water on the accused.
After the accused pushed Rawlins to the ground, Rawlins brandished a knife in each hand and threatened the plaintiff.
Rawlins denied that story and said he fell on his right hand. He noted that he got up and asked Belle why he pushed him and then left the scene.
Two witnesses called in by the prosecution also supported what the defense lawyer had put to Rawlins.
Egland Jules said that Rawlins did enter the shop with a beer bottle in his hand and that he “had in his drinks”.
Caroline Carty, another witness, said that Rawlins did smash the beer bottle on the floor of the bar before the accused asked him to leave the bar.
She also said that when Rawlins was pushed he fell on his behind and that he came back with two long knives threatening the accused.
After the case was heard His Lordship Francis Belle ordered the jury to return a verdict of not guilty in the matter.
