Paul Chapel of Kuru Kuru, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, pleaded not guilty to the charges of disorderly behaviour and unlawful possession of an offensive weapon.
He denied that on November 11, he behaved disorderly in a public place and that he had an offensive weapon, that is, a cutlass without reasonable excuse or authority.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford made no objections to Chapel’s bail application when the defendant suggested it but Chapel noted that he couldn’t afford a large sum.
Chapel said that he is a sunglasses vendor and that on the day in question he was standing at his cart “when a man who seh he is a police hold me by me neck and choked me and tek way me shades that I dey wearing.”
He said that the man then took out a cutlass and fired a chop at him but he caught the blade in his right hand and yanked it from the man who immediately fled the scene.
Chapel noted that he then ran to a mobile police patrol that was in the area to relate the incident but he was greeted by several policemen who only seemed interested in the cutlass he had in his hand.
He said that he became annoyed that the policemen were focusing on him instead of his attacker and this caused him to openly express his displeasure.
“Please my worship I gah a mother that cripple and in a wheel chair….I is de only one that she gah foh look after she cause I ain’t gah no brothers or sisters,” Chapel pleaded.
The case was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for November 30.
