‘You have no behaviour,’ says Magistrate Browne-Matthias

A Bequia resident was slapped with a series of fines yesterday at Kingstown Magistrate’s Court for offences that were committed on the same day that he was placed on a bond.{{more}}

Zackeem Bess was served with two charges on September 5, 2014 for damage to property and for throwing a missile.

According to facts presented in court, Bess saw virtual complainant, Marco Browne, standing at the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines branch in Port Elizabeth on September 5, 2014, around 5 p.m., when he blasted a bottle at him.

When Browne dodged the first bottle, Bess attempted to hit him again with a second bottle, which also missed and broke the glass of a window at the bank branch.

Browne, as well as the bank supervisor, made reports of the matter to the police.

For damage to property, Bess was made to pay compensation of $700 forthwith to the BOSVG Bequia branch or spend three months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $500 forthwith or spend two months in prison and his bond was activated.

For throwing the missile, Bess was given a six-month suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Inspector Glenford Gregg stated that that earlier that same day, the 19-year-old had been placed on a bond by the magistrate.

In his explanation, Bess said that sometime before the incident last Friday, he was at a party when 12 persons, including Browne, attacked him. He stated that he received a chop in his back and on his arm, but did not report the matter to the police.

Additionally, he stated that one of the 12 persons, who was not Browne, met him on Friday and asked if “me done sign me will.”

“I went to the police and tell them one the man dem just threaten me. I tell them if I have to break my bond to save myself, I go do it,” the 19-year-old said.

Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias made reference to a string of past offences committed by Bess and said that he was not looking to reform.

“You have no behaviour. You have no behaviour at all and you start early…it’s ongoing,” the magistrate said.

“Why you don’t behave yourself period? Bond, bond, bond, bond. You getting away with bonds and it has nothing to do with people threatening you.”(BK)