Man accused of hitting Transport Authority worker in face

The St James Parish Court has set April 4 as the trial date for a man who allegedly hit a female Transport Authority worker in the face during a confrontation at the Authority's office in Montego Bay, St James, last November.

Roger Moore, who is charged with unlawful wounding, had his bail extended when he appeared before presiding Judge Sasha-Marie Ashley last Friday. The complainant was not present during the proceedings.

"You did hit her in her face?" Ashley asked Moore.

"No," Moore replied stoutly.

"So what happened to her face? You don't know what happened to her face?" Ashley insisted.

"Not to my knowledge...I 'chucked' her because she attacked me. She is lying," Moore maintained. "I am not guilty, but I am not afraid of the truth, so I will leave it to the court."

Ashley subsequently set the trial for April 4 and extended Moore's bail.

The allegations against Moore stem from an incident on November 1, 2023, in which he reportedly went to the Transport Authority office in Montego Bay where he began behaving boisterously while demanding to see the manager and making threats.

Moore reportedly attempted to enter the manager's office, but was prevented from doing so by staff, following which he assaulted them. During the fracas, Moore allegedly hit the woman in the face and bit another worker on the arm. He also allegedly damaged a company laptop.

Moore was previously tried on February 13 on a charge of malicious destruction of property in relation to the incident. However, he was freed of that charge after the judge ruled that a guilty verdict could not be issued beyond a reasonable doubt because of disparity in the witnesses' evidence.