Machel’s victim: I may have been drunk

During cross-examination Russell Pollonais said he had two drinks of whisky while at the club, on a night when there were no free drinks.

Montano’s attorney posed the question: “So you could have been intoxicated?”

“Maybe,” Pollonais answered.

The witness said he had another drink before he went into the club that night. “Straight rum and coke,” Pollonais said, causing the courtroom to burst into laughter.

He then retracted his statement and said he had two straight shots of whisky at Zen and a drink of rum and coke before entering. Pollonais had earlier given evidence on June 17, before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Court, where Montano, is jointly charged along with Joel “Zan” Fezeck, 26-year-old Kernel Roberts, songwriter/producer and son of the late calypsonian, Lord Kitchener, and Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc, with assaulting Pollonais..

Montano, Fezeck and Roberts, are also charged with assaulting Brandis Brown. Montano, 33, also faces further offences of assaulting Jenelle Le Chee and Gerard Bowrin and using obscene language.

The charges stem from a fracas outside the nightclub at Keate Street, Port-of-Spain, on April 26, 2007.

Also at yesterday’s hearing, Pollonais was grilled by the defence lawyer after recanting an earlier statement that he had retained attorney Anand Ramlogan as his attorney.

According to the witness, he had only sought advice from the lawyer days after the alleged beating.

He also denied talking to his friends about the incident before talking to the police, He said he instead chose to try and put the incident behind him.

“I did not want to recall the incident,” he said under examination.

The prosecution is expected to continue leading evidence from Janelle Lee Chee, who is studying in London, when hearing resumes on July 16. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Carla Brown-Antoine and Randall Hector appear for the State.

• Montano...is charged with assaulting Russell Pollonais, Brandis Brown, Janelle Lee Chee and Gerard Bowrin, and using obscene language

to the annoyance of others.

• Roberts...is charged with assaulting Russell Pollonais and Brandis Brown

• Fezeck...is charged with assaulting Russell Pollonais and Brandis Brown

• Le Blanc...is charged with assaulting Russell Pollonais