Courtroom briefs

Semi-paralysed plumber Alpheous Williams appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday charged with possession of a firearm and 13 rounds of ammunition which police alleged were hidden in one side of a pair of sneakers the accused was wearing.

Williams, 24, of Waterhole, Cocorite, stood in Courtroom Four B before Magistrate Melvin Daniel who granted the accused $250,000 surety bail to cover both charges. The charges against Williams are that on Friday last in Cocorite he had a .38 revolver and ammunition in his possession. PC Nazardean Khan laid the charges.

The gun and ammunition as well as the right side of the white sneakers were produced to the court yesterday by PC Khan. Attorney Criston J Williams represented the accused. Prosecutor Sgt Stanley Joseph made no objection to bail. Daniel later adjourned the case to July 1.

Volunteer soldier gets bail

Volunteer soldier Dale Alexander who has been charged with possession of 3.12 kilos of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking was yesterday granted $120,000 bail by a Port-of-Spain magistrate before whom he appeared to answer the charge.

Alexander, 42, of Plymouth, Tobago, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie, who presided over Courtroom Four A. The accused was arrested at the Government Shipping Service, Tobago Terminal, Port-of-Spain on Wednesday last. Alexander was unrepresented by counsel yesterday and informed the magistrate that he is a volunteer with the TT Defence Force. The accused added that he transports goods from Trinidad to Tobago and vice-versa. Alexander said he is married and has three children ages eight, nine and 16. At the time of his arrest, Alexander was attempting to board the inter-island ferry Warrior Spirit en route to Tobago. Estate Constable Marlon Taylor of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, subsequently laid the charge. McKenzie adjourned the case to July 1.

Cross-dressers arrested

for loitering

Four men, three of whom were arrested in female clothing, were yesterday granted a total of $42,000 bail by a Port-of-Spain magistrate before whom they appeared charged individually with loitering.

The accused persons are Tevin John, Kwesi John, Keon Patterson and Dillon Bryce all of Port-of-Spain. The men appeared before Magistrate Cheron Raphael in the Third Court, where they pleaded not guilty. The magistrate read the charges which alleged that on Sunday last the four accused failed to give proper reasons to police officers for why they were at Victoria Square in the capital.

Kwesi John pleaded guilty but Raphael subsequently entered a not guilty plea after John expressed disagreement with the facts as read out by court prosecutor Inspector Gale Charles.

The magistrate granted Kwesi John and Patterson own bail in the sums of $5,000 and $7,000 respectively. She also granted Tevin and Bryce own bail in the sums of $10,000 and $20,000 respectively. All four accused were ordered to reappear in court on August 23.

Men fined for having knife

Two men were yesterday fined a total of $3,000 by a Port-of-Spain magistrate before whom they appeared charged with possession of a weapon namely a knife to commit an arrestable offence. Terrance Stoddard and Shondel Walker appeared before Magistrate Cheron Raphael in the Third Court where they pleaded guilty.

Court prosecutor Inspector Gale Charles said that at 12.10 am on Saturday, police on roadblock duty along Henry Street near South Quay, Port-of-Spain observed Stoddard and Walker seated in the rear of a car.

The officers then asked both men to exit the vehicle and searched them. A knife was found and seized. Questioned about the knife, by police, Stoddard said, “I have to use it on a fellar who tried to rob me.”

Stoddard and Walker were not represented by an attorney. Raphael fined both Stoddard and Walker $1,500 and ordered that they pay the money within three months or in default serve four months hard labour.