Couple freed of wounding charge after victim opts to drop case

Janelle Walters, a vendor, and Oswald Brummell, a tattoo artist, on Monday received a lucky break after the man they were charged with wounding in an attack opted to drop his complaint against them.

The charge against the duo stated that on September 1, at Cross and Hadfield streets, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Wesley Payne.

Both Walters and Brummell had denied the charge.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves told Magistrate Judy Latchman that on the day in question, around 9 am, the complainant was seated at his stand when Walters, armed with a cutlass, approached him and an argument ensued. It was alleged that Walters dealt him a chop to his head, while Brummell dealt him several cuffs to his stomach.

The court heard that Payne received four stitches to the wound on the left side of his head.

Magistrate Latchman placed the two accused on $150,000 bail each and adjourned the case but Payne then intervened and told the court that he just wanted peace. He related to the court that he no longer wished to offer evidence and subsequently swore to not being forced or threatened to drop the matter.

As a result, the charge was dismissed.