An unemployed man was yesterday remanded to prison after he told a court that the reason he was absent on several occasions was because he got put out of his home.
Neville Dondas, 24, who has been absent from court even after an arrest warrant was issued for him, appeared yesterday before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. During his arraignment, he was charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Charles Jacobus on June 24th, 2019 at Arapaima Street. He was also charged with using threatening behaviour towards Randy Greene on August 27th, 2019.
The unrepresented Dondas pleaded not guilty to both charges and told the magistrate that he was not at the address, Lot H 30 Guyhoc Park, which he had given to the police, because he was put out of the home. He added that he has also been unemployed and that he is staying “all over.”
“I does put down my head here or there,” he told the court when he asked where he is currently staying.
Prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to Dondas being released on bail after the man finished explaining his absence. The prosecutor added that the grounds of his objections vary. He said that Dondas has no fixed address and from his previous behaviour towards the court, he believes that Dondas might be a flight risk. Blackman also told the magistrate that the man has been absent from the court even after the arrest warrant was issued and when he finally appeared, he had no valid reason for not being present. The prosecutor further objected to bail being granted citing the prevalence and nature of the offence as well as the punishment it attracts.
Magistrate McGusty remanded Dondas after explaining that this way, the police might be able to find him for his next court hearing on November 27th.
