A 34-year-old policeman was last Friday placed on bail in the sum of $50,000 when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer the charge of unlawful wounding which reportedly occurred in a station compound.
It is alleged that on March 27 at Georgetown, Kevin Smith, Police Constable #18529 of 31 Gordon Street, Kitty, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Oneka Baptiste.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
According to the defendant, the virtual complainant (VC) went to the East La Penitence Police Station to enquire about an assault charge which had been brought against her. While there, Smith said that the VC began behaving in an unruly manner and although he tried to calm her down she ran out of the station in haste and stumbled and hit herself at the station gate. This, the defendant explained, was responsible for the injuries she had sustained.
“Meh worship, I din assault she, I made no physical contact with her,” Smith stressed.
The VC, however, said that on the day in question while enquiring about the charge that had been brought against her, the defendant started speaking to her in an abusive manner and as a result she decided to leave the station to complain to higher authorities about his behaviour. It was at this point, she said, that while approaching the gate to leave the station compound the defendant slammed the gate into her to prevent her from leaving and that resulted in her injuries. She said also that he began to verbally abuse her again.
The unrepresented Smith was subsequently placed on $50,000 bail and has to return to Court Two on June 19 for statements.
