Judge orders warrant for one-legged man

A senior parish judge yesterday ordered a warrant for a one-legged man, who allegedly assaulted his relative.

The man, Damion Whyte, has not appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court since the matter was first listed last month.

Yesterday, when he was expected to attend, the complainant shared with Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque that Whyte is not able to walk due to his physical disability, hence his absence from court proceedings. But further probing by the senior jurist revealed that the accused can "hop about".

"How dare you come to the court and be dishonest in the way you have done, to give the impression that the man cannot move around? There is a lot that goes into bringing a matter before the court and for you to come before in the manner that you have is the utmost disrespect," Judge Cole-Montaque said.

The allegations are that on July 12 at 4:30 p.m., the complainant was at home when she scolded her niece, Whyte's daughter. Shortly after, Whyte held the complainant from behind, in her head and chest, and began pulling and pushing her. He then picked up a shovel and walked towards the complainant, gesturing to hit her with the tool.

The tool was taken from Whyte by another relative. Whyte was taken into custody at the Allman Town Police Station, and reportedly resisted being arrested. He was later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting a constable, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

"This is the same man weh yuh say can't come court? Him need fi come court. Me want see him hop out for this one because him reach station so him fi come court too. Let me sign the warrant right now," the jurist scolded further.

A date was not set for the matter to be mentioned, as the matter will be placed before the court upon the execution of the warrant.