TV host Alexander in court on assault charges

Alexander is charged with assaulting Christopher Charles occasioning actual bodily harm on July 12, 2016.

The charge was laid indictably, so Alexander was not called on to enter a plea before the magistrate. Police prosecutor Inspector Winston Dillon also indicated that he received no recommendation on whether the case would be heard summarily in the magistrates’ court or indictably, before a judge and jury at the High Court.

Alexander is represented by attorneys Gilbert Peterson,C, and Lee Merry. Also appearing yesterday was PC Sheldon Mires, who is also charged with assaulting Charles.

Two charges were read out to him, that on July 12, 2006 at Santa Cruz he assaulted Christopher Charles by way of beating and that on the same date and place, he committed common assault against Charles.

For the former, he was allowed to enter a plea as the charge was laid summarily. He pleaded not guilty.

The latter charge of common assault was laid indictably so he could not enter a plea before the Chief Magistrate. In his submissions, Merry indicated that they were ready to proceed and asked that the process of having a State prosecutor appointed be expedited because of Alexander’s job. The Chief Magistrate was informed that the police’s file relating to the investigation was expected to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions by March 3. Alexander, who is on suspension from the TT Police Service, will return to court on March 27.