Beer refusal leads cousins before the Magistrate

A Questelles resident has been ordered to compensate his cousin, who he pushed down a set of steps after being refused a Hairoun beer as he deemed to be too drunk.

Stephen Samuel appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John on February 6, 2024 where he pleaded guilty that on August 26, 2023, at Questelles he did unlawfully and maliciously wound Asquith John of Questelles.

The facts which were read by Prosecutor, Corlene Samuel are that John has known Samuel for all his life, as they are relatives. They had been hanging out with each other over the past months, but because of Samuel’s behaviour, they no longer go out together any more.

At times, John and Samuel will merely speak to each other whenever they cross paths, but nothing else. On Saturday August 26, 2023, at 10:45 p.m John went to Samuel’s aunt’s shop to buy some ice. While there, Samuel asked John to buy him a Hairoun beer. John replied, “You done drunk, why you want a Hairoun beer?”

As a result, Samuel left the shop. When John followed him and approached some steps leading from the shop he saw Samuel standing on the steps, and walked past him. As John was doing so, Samuel pushed John on his back, causing him to fall to the ground and hit the ride side of his face.

John reported the matter to the Questelles Police Station. The scene was visited by some officers, and Samuel was summoned at the said police station. Samuel was then cautioned and interviewed but refused to give a statement. He was later charged for the offence of wounding.

“Your honour, I look like a man who go just push a man just so?” John questioned, after disagreeing with the validity of the facts that were read by the Prosecutor.

After permitting both Samuel and John to share their versions of the incident, Senior Magistrate John then reprimanded Samuel advising that he should be “mindful of how you behave.”

“Supposed when you push down the man, the man fall and crack his skull…?” John asked.

The Senior Magistrate then asked John if he would like to receive compensation, or otherwise take Samuel to court and action him. John replied that he would rather be compensated during the proceeding.

The court then fined Samuel $500 to be paid in one month; if he doesn’t he will spend six months in prison. Samuel was also ordered to pay compensation of $500 to be paid in one month or spend six months in prison. Samuel was also placed on a bond for one year in the sum of $500 or he will spend three months in prison.

“You need to behave yourself,” the Senior acMagistrate warned Samuel.

However, John posited that $500 is not enough compensation, as he has had four stitches to his eye, and has sustained other injures on his body as well.

The senior Magistrate then doubled the compensation ordering Samuel to pay $1000.

Samuel then asked the Senior Magistrate to warn John not to walk in his yard, but John argued that Samuel’s yard “is a road where everybody walk.” Samuel said that it is his yard so John should not walk in his yard.

“Mr Samuel, Mr Samuel, avoid any confrontation with the gentleman,” Senior Magistrate John told him.

“That is not main road your honour. That is not main road,” Samuel responded, adding that a Sergeant already warned John not to walk in his yard.

The Senior Magistrate told Samuel that he seemed not to have learnt any lesson from sanction that were imposed on him.

“Avoid any confrontation with Mr John or anybody else…” Senior Magistrate John said.

“For your own liberty and your own freedom, and for you not to come back before the court, avoid.”

After the court adjourned, the prosecutor warned Samuel that John is not the one with a bond over his head, so he really should be mindful of not getting into any trouble that will break his bond.