-two men charged with assault
A Burrowes School of Arts teacher was placed on self bail yesterday after pleading not guilty to the charge of unlawful assault before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that Raul Storm St Valle of 65 Remus Street, Agricola unlawfully assaulted Brent Griffith at Agricola on July 24.
The 45-year-old accused was represented by Mohamed Zafar who in his application for nominal bail told the court that Griffith would go to his client’s yard and ask for handouts and he would get food. He then stated that Griffith stole duck eggs from his client and later lashed him with a cutlass. He closed his submissions by stating that his client has been a teacher for eight years and sells ducks as well.
However Police Prosecutor Munilall Seetaram stated that an argument between the two men who are of the same area had broken into a fist fight after St Valle went to collect $2,000 from the VC. The Virtual Complaint, Griffith, who was absent, was also charged with assault.
St Valle in his explanation to the court denied the Police Prosecutor’s account of the story and pointed out that he and the VC were friends since high school and “after he stole the duck eggs I asked him not to return”. St Valle went on to tell the court that after banning the VC his parents were molested by Griffith when he wasn’t at home and it was on the day in question while going to bathe he was attacked by Griffith with the cutlass. “Your Honour I’m a poor man and a teacher,” he told the judge.
After listening to the submissions, the Magistrate placed St Valle on self bail and ordered him to return to court on August 17.
