Construction worker fined EC$500 for throwing bottle at garbage collectors

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - A construction worker was fined EC$500 for throwing a bottle at garbage collectors after they drove off from his residence.

Charles Clarke of Pump Road appeared today [Tuesday, May 6] before Magistrate Yasmine Clarke and pleaded not guilty to the missile-throwing charge, but evidence led by two garbage collectors proved him guilty.

According to Anthony Duberry and Raffubeen Hoosain, at 5:30 p.m. on December 14, 2007 they were collecting garbage along Pump Road when Duberry noticed a lot of grass was placed on a garbage bag in front of Clarke’s residence. 

He removed the grass, placed them on the ground and threw the garbage bag into the truck.

Evidence revealed that Clarke was at that time in his yard drinking beer from a bottle when Duberry informed him that they (Solid Waste Management) do not collect grass.  ~~Adz:Right~~

Duberry told the court that as the truck was driving away from Clarke’s gate, he heard a loud bang, “Splash...the bottle hit the middle of the truck.”

Hoosain said Clarke had uttered “a bad word” to them. He also told the court that a lot of beer was splashed onto his shirt when Clarke threw the bottle. Clarke however sought to know from Hoosain how he could have thrown the bottle if he were drinking from it.  “You were in the truck, how come so much beer went on you?”, Clarke asked Hoosain.

Clarke told the court that all of his garbage, including the grass, were inside the bag and it was not a bottle he threw at the truck but a garbage bag. “I threw a black bag. I was throwing the bag and the bag burst,” Clarke said.

He also said that five minutes after the truck had left his gate a police officer came to his residence and enquired whether he had thrown a bottle.

During cross examination, Police Prosecutor Inspector Andre Mitchell suggested to Clarke that he was lying and he did throw a bottle which “hit the truck”.

“The bag burst. If I had thrown the bottle, I would have hit one of them...they are lying,” Clarke said.

“You were vexed, that is why you threw the bottle. I put it to you are lying,” the Prosecutor said

Clarke was convicted for the offence and the Magistrate imposed an EC$500 fine payable in one month or, if in default, one month imprisonment.

In the same court, Kimoy Powell’s case was mentioned. He was allegedly found in possession of controlled drugs on May 2, 2008 at Long Point Estate. He pleaded not guilty.

Powell is also accused of planting cannabis at a location in Long Point, an accusation which he also denied.

Inspector Mitchell requested the case be adjourned because the controlled drugs were being analysed. Powell has to return to court on May 27, 2008.