Sea Lots man pleads guilty to shooting

A SEA Lots man charged with shooting another man from the area pleaded guilty to a lesser count of unlawful wounding on Wednesday, and offered compensation to the victim. He is awaiting sentencing in the new year. Damien Roberts of Pioneer Drive, Sea Lots, was charged with shooting Mitchell Frasier of Production Drive, Sea Lots on July 14, 2000. In outlining the State’s case before Madame Justice Alice Yorke Soo Hon at the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court, prosecutor Marlon Sambucharan told the court that on the morning of the day in question, Frasier went to visit his girlfriend, who also lived in Sea Lots. She told him that Roberts had been “harassing” her.

At around 10.30 am, Frasier sought the assistance of a friend and they confronted Roberts and warned him to desist fromharassing his girlfriend. Roberts refused and, shortly after, took out a gun and shot Frasier in the left thigh. A struggle ensued between the two until someone pulled Frasier away, and Roberts ran off. Frasier was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated and discharged. A report was made at the Besson Street Police Station. On June 30, 2001, Frasier saw Roberts sitting near a shop on Pioneer Drive, and he immediately  alerted officers at the station. Roberts was arrested and charged by Cpl Millet. He was represented by attorney Brent Ali and will be sentenced on January 22, 2005.