Conductor allegedly threatens to kill boss

A conductor was left stunned on Monday when the bus driver he defended during a road rage incident opted not to post his bail because he allegedly threatened him.

It was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that on May 22, the conductor, Noel Walker, was aboard a bus operated by the driver, when another motorist, Beres Lee, hit the bus causing damage. An argument developed between Lee and the driver. Lee reportedly reached for a knife and attempted to stab the bus driver, who drove away. Lee reportedly gave chase, and used his vehicle to corner the bus.

Walker then exited the bus armed with a knife and confronted Lee. The prosecutor detailed that both Lee and Walker chased each other around the bus, armed with knives. The chase ended when lawmen from the Half-Way Tree Police Station intervened. Lee and Walker were charged with assault at common law, being armed with an offensive weapon and disorderly conduct.

The bus driver told presiding Judge Venise Blackstock-Murray that Walker contacted him, asking for his assistance to pay his fines. But when Walker was told that there was no money available, he allegedly threatened him.

"He told me that if he went to prison and spent a year, he would kill me when he came out and if he can't kill me, he would have his friends kill me," the driver told the judge.

"Your Honour, I was trying to help this man, because man rush him fi stab him up. The next day, him fire me and put me on two weeks' suspension, so I don't have no money to come to court. I called him on the phone and say, 'Sir, what you doing for me? You helping me out when I go to court?' And he said, 'No me nah help you, me nah nuh money'. So me tell him say 'You see how me take up your problem and you nah help me and a me one affi siddung inna the problem'. Your Honour, I don't threaten him," Walker shared, after pleading guilty to the charges.

The judge re-offered Walker bail in the sum of $200,000 in his own surety given the circumstances. He is to return to court on September 11, when the matter is set for mention.

- T.T.