Penal man on $25,000 bond for beating cop

A 29-year-old Penal welder, who beat a policeman in a bar, fracturing his skull in the process, yesterday escaped a prison sentence and was instead placed on a $25,000 bond to keep the peace for three years by a San Fernando High Court judge. Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon warned the accused, Preston Pierre of Lowkie Trace, if he broke the bond he would be sent to jail for two years with hard labour. Pierre, who was initially charged with wounding with intent, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Constable Gerard Khan on June 8, 2002, at CNN Bar in Penal.

According to the State’s case, led by acting assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Honore Paul, PCs Khan and Anthony Mohammed were at the bar when they heard a commotion outside and on investigating, saw Pierre and another man involved in an altercation. When the officers told Pierre and the other man to take their dispute to the police station, Pierre struck PC Khan on his head. Honore Paul told the court the accused continued to beat the officer to the ground, causing Khan to suffer a cerebral concussion and skull fracture. When other officers arrived and cautioned Pierre, he said, “If I knew he (Khan) was a policeman, I would not have hit him.” Pierre was defended by Dexter Bailey.