Andre Welch was granted $85,000 bail on Thursday, after denying charges that he slapped a minor and assaulted a woman when she intervened in the episode.
Welch appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson and denied the charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm and unlawful assault. It is alleged that on Tuesday he unlawfully inflicted grievous bodily harm on Feiana Harryram and on the same day he unlawfully assaulted a minor.
Welch said the minor was pelting at a shop and he urged him to desist. He said that the minor in turn began cursing him. He added that he pushed him and he allegedly fell off his bike. The minor then ran home and informed his parents. Welch further alleged that as a result Harryram came to find out what had happened and she spat in his face.
However, in court, Harryram accused Welch of lying. She said it was Welch who cursed the minor, who cursed him in reply. The woman explained that she was on the road watching the minor as well as her son, as they were riding. She alleged that after Welch slapped the minor, he was going to hit her son and she intervened.
Welch, Harryram said, tried to slap her and she put her hands to block his strike. He then proceeded to twist her hand, causing her injury.
The minor’s mother, who was also present, told the court that Welch frequented her home and was in the habit of taunting her son and calling him names. She said she never expected him to behave in such a manner.
The prosecutor did not object to bail but asked that a condition be attached so that Welch would have no contact with the complainants in the matter.
Welch was granted $75,000 bail on the first charge and $10,000 bail on the second. The matter was then put down for June 24 at Court 10.
