Lawyer seeks bail for client with one kidney

Attorney-at-law Yanique Watson yesterday pleaded to Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court Judge Jacqueline Wilcott to exercise compassion towards her client, and offer him bail on humanitarian grounds, as his health was making his life difficult behind bars.

Watson's client, Nicholas Berry, is facing a charge of robbery with aggravation. The accused man has been in custody since December, following his arrest for the incident for which he was arrested that month.

According to Watson, the 29-year-old Berry has one kidney and is currently passing blood in his stool, which makes it difficult for him to handle jail house conditions.

"No one is taking him to the doctor, Your Honour," Watson told the judge, in seeking to get her to understand the difficult situation facing her client.

It is alleged that on December 1, the complainant was walking along Half-Way Tree Road when he was approached by Berry and two other men. The men robbed him of his cellular phone and an undetermined sum of money. Berry was subsequently apprehended but the other two men are still on the run.

Watson sought to strengthen her appeal to the judge by telling her that Berry's health condition has deteriorated to the point where he recently fainted in the holding area of the cell in the courtroom.

"When was that?" Judge Wilcott asked, in seeking to get clarity on the alleged fainting.

"Well, Your Honour, I do not have the exact date at this time," responded Watson.

While not addressing Watson's request, the judge adjourned the case until Friday, when she is expected to consider the bail application.