Farmer to be sentenced in wounding case

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James farmer, who reportedly threw a stone and caused serious injury to the face of a man with whom he had earlier had a dispute, will be sentenced in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday, April 5.

Twenty-six-year-old Nigel Brown, of a Welcome Hall address, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding committed against Devon Segrie, when he appeared in court on Monday. He was offered bail in the sum of $50,000 on his own surety and is to return to court next month.

The allegations are that on December 14, 2012, Brown approached Segrie, who owed him money, which he reportedly refused to pay.

Brown then left the scene but reappeared shortly afterwards. He reportedly began throwing stones at Segrie. One of the stones hit Segrie in his face, causing an injury to his mouth. A report was made to the police, and Brown was subsequently arrested and charged on March 4.

"Do you know this gentleman?" Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small asked Brown, looking in Segrie's direction.

"I know his face, but I don't really know him," Brown admitted.

HAD NOT TAKEN UP BAIL OFFER

Later in the proceedings, the prosecution revealed that Brown had been offered station bail while in custody but had not taken up the offer.

"Do you have somebody to bail you?" Wong-Small asked Brown.

"Yes, your honour," said Brown.

"If that is the case, why didn't the person bail you?" asked the magistrate.

"I didn't have any phone to send any message," answered Brown.

Wong-Small then offered Brown bail in the sum of $50,000 with his own surety and ordered him to report at the Spring Mount Police Station every Monday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. She also ordered a social enquiry report to be prepared to help determine his sentence.

"You are going to bail yourself, but it means you're going to report to the police station," Wong-Small advised Brown before setting his case for sentencing on April 5.