Owia man placed on remand tells magistrate he has no one to take care of his pigs

A man who escaped police custody and had cocaine in his possession will know his fate today when he appears in the Serious Offences Court for sentencing.

Owia resident, Jamal Young appeared in the Kingstown Magistrate Court on January 23, before senior magistrate, Rickie Burnett where three charges were laid against him. And when he was told he would be remanded on two of those charges, Young told the senior magistrate he has no one to take care of his pigs.

The defendant is charged that on January 7, at Owia he unlawfully assaulted Courtney Greaves of Owia.

He is also charged that on January 21, at Owia while being in lawful custody at the Owia Police Station he did escape such custody. In addition, he is charged that on January 21, at Owia, he had in his possession a controlled drug, to wit, 12 grammes of cocaine with the intent to supply to another.

Young pleaded not guilty to the assault charge and pleaded guilty to the other two charges.

The senior magistrate granted him bail on his own recognisance on the assault charge, and that matter was adjourned and transferred to the Georgetown Magistrate Court, to be heard on January 30.

The defendant is remanded into custody on the other two charges.These matters were adjourned and transferred to the Serious Offences Court for sentencing on January 24.

When Young was told that he would be remanded into custody, the defendant told the court that he has pigs to take care of and he has no one to take care of them.

The senior magistrate told him that given the charges he is facing, he does not know what his sentence would be, but it is possible that he could be sent to prison, and if he is sent to prison someone will have to take care of the animals.

Young responded “is me alone…”.