Bounty Killa on $400 bond

A Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday placed a popular Jamaican dancehall artiste on a bond for two years for using obscene language during a performance in Trinidad last August. Rodney Price’s court appearance stemmed from charges laid during the “Summer Fest” concert  on August 14 at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

According to reports, Price (stage name Bounty Killa) burst into a series of expletives after only five minutes of performing one of his popular songs. Law officers reportedly escorted Price off the stage after the outburst. He was later charged by PC Andre Forgenie. When Price appeared before Magistrate Maureen Gaffoor in the City’s Third Court on August 16, he was placed on $25,000 bail. The magistrate also ordered that all Price’s passport documents be held.

Soon after, Price filed documents in the Port-of-Spain High Court asking a judge to hear an application for his passport to be returned to him. Attorneys Mario Merritt and Wayne Sturge argued his case. The matter was heard before Justice Prakash Moosai in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court. His attorneys told the court Price needed his passport to travel to different countries so he could fulfil his contractual obligations as an artiste. They assured the judge that Price would return to face his charge in the lower court. Justice Moosai ordered the passport be returned after being given the assurance that Prince would return to Trinidad on October 31 2004, to answer the cursing charge on November 1. When Price appeared yesterday, Sturge told Magistrate David Harris Price had accepted that he did in fact use obscene language and was wrong to do so.

According to Sturge, the artiste’s aggression on the night of the concert stemmed from frustration brought about by a disagreement with the show’s sound engineer. On his client’s behalf, Sturge told the court Price did not have any previous convictions. He also told the magistrate this was not his client’s first time performing in Trinidad, and this was his first ever such incident, one for which he had already publicly apologised. In passing sentence, the magistrate reminded Price’s attorney that his client’s popularity was not going to win him over. Rodney Price should not be treated differently from any one else. He is bonded in the some of $400 for two years with good behaviour. He is discharged.