Remanded on attempted murder charge

 

Family members sobbed after hearing that Fausto Reynoso De Jesus was being remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison.

The Dominican Republic national, who is now an Antiguan citizen, appeared in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh charged with attempted murder.

A magistrate, based on the nature of the offence, has no jurisdiction to grant bail to De Jesus. His attorney Monique Francis Gordon will have to make application in the High Court.

De Jesus, 23, and Yohan Santana of St Johnson’s Village were involved in an altercation at a Spanish bar located on Joseph Lane.

It is alleged that De Jesus and Santana, 21, had an argument inside the bar, which spilled outside of the business place.

Further allegations are that the 23-year-old came in possession of a cutlass used it to cut off three fingers on Santana’s left hand.

Investigations were conducted after the police were notified and De Jesus was arrested and charged with the indictable offence.

Committal proceedings are set for July 18.

 

Chief magistrate: no fighting at this court

 

One of the men who is jointly charged with a police officer for allegedly killing a female gas station attendant has been warned to desist from disruptive conduct while at the St John’s Magistrates’ Court.

Dion “Ticks” Thomas was charged with making use of indecent language and disorderly conduct.

He was taken to court for his weekly remand when he, another inmate and a police officer had an altercation. Thomas admitted to using bad words, but said that he was not fighting; he only punched another inmate in the face.

Thomas and the other inmate, who was recently remanded to prison, had an argument and they began to fight. A police officer stationed at the Magistrates’ Court heard the commotion and went and parted the men.

According to Thomas, the officer told him he would hit him and allegedly threatened his family.

Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh told Thomas that she was overlooking the charges and warned him not to display any further conduct while at the court.

Walsh advised the inmate that she has warned other prisoners about misbehaving at the Magistrates’ Court and added that if this occurs again, he will face the full force of the law.

“Don’t let this happen again. I do not want any conduct at the court,” Walsh told Thomas. “I don’t know why you behave like animals. I sent out a memo but maybe because you just came you did not get it, so I am giving you a break.

“I do not want any fighting at this court. If you have difficulty with any of the officers or other inmates while here (at court) make a report to me and I will deal with it,” Walsh said.

 

Cuban man deported

 

Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh has ordered the deportation of a Cuban man after he overstayed his welcome.

Forty-three-year-old Luis Antonio Cruz Corria appeared in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to remaining in the country after the expiration of a permit.

Corria was picked up in St John’s by immigration officers on Friday, April 27, and detained at the St John’s Police Station.

The Cuban man later handed over his passport to immigration officials, who checked the document and noted that he had an entry permit dated February 19 to March 18.

Records at the Immigration Department were checked but documentation was found showing that Corria had not received any extensions.

Corria, who was living at lower All Saints Road, was arrested and charged.  He is expected to leave Antigua for his native Cuba on Monday.

Gregson Gardner prosecuted the matter.

 

Woman advised to seek anger management

 

A 23-year-old woman was fined $1,200 forthwith for committing six offences.

Jennelsa Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of using indecent language, dual counts of disorderly conduct and double counts of making use of insulting language.

Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh imposed a $200 fine for each charge. Failure to pay the fines would have resulted in Johnson spending six months in prison.

Johnson, who was an employee with Imperial Group Limited located on Dickenson Bay Street, refused to leave the property when asked by the owner.

The police were notified and officers later arrived at the business place where they met Johnson sitting with her arms folded in an aggressive manner.

Johnson again refused to leave and a struggle ensued between her and a female officer. She told the court that she wanted to collect files off the work computer for her portfolio, but the owner had changed the password.

Johnson apologised to the officer for her conduct and said that she was frustrated. The young woman was told by Chief Magistrate Walsh to seek anger management.

The offences occurred at Dickenson Bay and Newgate Streets respectively on April 25.