UWI student sorry for threatening cop

Steffian Brown, the university student who spent Monday night in jail after threatening to kill a police officer earlier that day, apologised for her disrespectful behaviour when she returned to court on Tuesday.

Brown stood humbly in the prisoner's dock at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court as she apologised for the incident, which she deemed as a "moment of frustration".

"As a biotechnology student at The University of the West Indies, I recognise the importance of respecting authority figures and my actions fell short of that. I deeply regret my actions. I understand the gravity of making such statements, especially toward a law enforcement officer who is dedicated to ensuring public safety. I take full responsibility for my words and I assure you it was an isolated incident that does not reflect my true character," she said.

She was hauled before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday, moments after she was ticketed for breaching the Road Traffic Act. It was shared in court that Brown was seen running a red light, which she refuted.

"She then said, 'P***y any weh me see yuh, me a guh buss a shot inna yuh face'," the complainant related to the court on Monday. Brown said her words were, "Yuh nah live long."

Brown said that she intends to attend counselling sessions, as her anger issues have become intensified with an increased course load as well as being away from her family who reside in Hanover.

"I am committed to learning from this mistake and ensuring that it will never happen again. Please accept my apology," the student pleaded.

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque, in accepting her apology, commended her for her introspection.

"I am pleased that you had a night of reflection. I am pleased that you saw the other side of the law, now you will know which side to be on," the senior jurist said. She told Brown that as she is on the cusp of starting her career, she should practise some restraint.

"You have to have restrain, you must. Are you going to be one of those persons that people come across and be brutish to? You going to be harsh and prude? You can't," the judge reasoned. Brown was fined $5,000 or 30 days' imprisonment.