Montano’s trial put off again

Soca superstar Machel Montano’s much anticipated testimony before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday failed to come off for yet another time. The entertainer would now return to court after the Carnival season to open his defence on charges of assault and using obscene language resulting from a fracas at the Zen night club. In the trial before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor, at the Port-of-Spain Fifth Court yesterday, the court learnt that prosecutor George Busby was engaged in legal arguments at the nearby Hall of Justice.

Montano’s attorney, Dana Seetahal, SC, expressed her disappointment at the prosecutor’s non-attendance for the opening of the defence’s case. The matter was then adjourned to March 9 and 10, when Montano would testify. Montano is jointly charged with Fezeck, 26-year-old songwriter/producer and son of the late calypsonian, Lord Kitchener, Kernel Roberts and Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc, with assaulting Russell Pollonais.  Montano, Fezeck and Roberts, are also charged with assaulting Brandis Brown.
 Montano, 33, also faces further offences of assaulting Le Chee and Gerard Bowrin, and using obscene language.