Young man prefers trial by Jury

The man, Anthony Berkeley, 30, appeared yesterday before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington, in the San Fernando First Magistrate’s Court, to answer the charges which arose from the incident.

The magistrate read out the first charge against the accused which alleged that on Sunday last at Southern Main Road, La Romaine, he wounded Zheng Ke Yu of Songhan Trading Limited. After Wellington read out this charge, he enquired whether Berkeley wanted the case be heard in the said court before a magistrate, or in the High Court before a judge and jury.

The accused, who represented himself, elected that the case be tried before a judge and jury in the High Court.

The magistrate read the second charge against Berkeley which alleged that on the same date and place he stole a pack of Broadway and two packs of Dunhill cigarettes. Berkeley pleaded not guilty. PC Chinapoo, of the San Fernando Police station laid the charge.

The accused yesterday informed the court that he lives at “406 Guayaguayare Village”. But looking at documents before him, Wellington noted that Berkeley told police that he lives at 13 Byron Street, La Romaine.

“How do you explain that? “questioned the magistrate. “ I do not know how to explain that. If they (police) gave you that, then I do not ...,” he trailed off.

The magistrate denied Berkeley bail and remanded him into police custody to reappear on September 5.