Charges against teenager dropped by 4 students

Former Miss Heritage Jonique Chance, on Tuesday, publicly apologized to four students who decided not to proceed in a matter in which she has been charged with assault.{{more}}

However, while four have decided not to proceed, two other students, Lauricia Wiliams of Biabou and Samantha Lavia of Bequia have decided to proceed with the case against Chance.

The students who did not wish for the matter to go any further were: Lorenzo Williams of Biabou, Brezanne DaSilva of Pembroke, Ronna Holder of Mesopotamia and Trishanna Ross.

Ayeika Samuel of Mesopotamia was not present in court because of school examinations and Brenni Alexander has yet to indicate how he will proceed with the matter.

Chance, a student of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on March 4 and was slapped with eight charges of assault.

It is alleged that on Thursday, February 28, in the area of the Mahogany Bar at Richmond Hill, close to the Girls’ High School, some time between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Chance assaulted the students by throwing an unknown substance on them, resulting in minor burns to the skin.

Before the court was called up, prosecutor Inspector Glenford Gregg, along with Chance, her attorney Jomo Thomas, the students who had been burned and their parents, met outside the courtroom.

At that point, it was understood that the students present were willing to forgive Chance and not proceed with the matter.

When the case was called, however, things did not go according to plan.

Addressing magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, Inspector Gregg said Chance had made a serious mistake and he was trying to prevent her from “racking up” eight convictions that would “stain” her for life.

“Sometimes we all make mistakes, serious mistakes. My job here is not to persecute, but prosecute. I spoke with the virtual complainants and witnesses and some parents said they are willing to forgive her,” Gregg said.

“We must not condone any wrongdoing and these young people have to thank their lucky stars that their injuries were rather minimal…,”

Gregg then urged Chance to publicly apologise to the students.

Each student present was then called to the witness dock and asked whether he or she was proceeding with the matter, following the discussion outside of the courtroom earlier.

One of the students, Trishanna Ross, who wished not to go any further with the case, told the court that she has since been threatened.

“My life has been threatened. Someone threatened to shoot me and said they always have their eyes on me…,” she told the court, adding that she has already reported the matter to the police.

In her apology to DaSilva, Chance said, “Brezanne, I want to let you know that I am deeply sorry for what I did. My act was unintentional. I was very mad at the time and that is what led me to the incident. I am deeply sorry and it wouldn’t happen again.”

In apologising to Holder, Chance said “You were very innocent. I deeply apologise. While I was in police custody, I was hoping that you recover.”

“I am deeply saddened. It could have been worse and you were very thoughtful not going through with this case. I am really sorry,” Chance said, as she made her apology to Ross.

For Lorenzo Williams, Chance said, “I am very sorry for what happened at the GHS bus stop. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. It won’t happen again.”

In 2011, Chance, then 16, won the Scotia Bank National Secondary Schools’ Miss Heritage Pageant, representing the Thomas Saunders Secondary School.

However, a letter from the National Secondary Schools’ Miss Heritage Pageant Planning Committee stated that Chance had been stripped of her title two weeks before she allegedly assaulted the students.

First Runner-Up at the 2011 pageant, Anya Frederick, will replace Chance as queen, for the duration of the reign.

The matter is adjourned to April 29.(KW)