A soldier and a policeman who allegedly assaulted a deejay at a bar were each granted $75,000 bail on Friday and warned to stay away from the victim.
Akim Brewster, 25, a soldier, and Akeel Boyce, 26, a policeman, both of Ste Madeleine, who are charged with maliciously wounding Kevin Ned. They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
They appeared before San Fernando Magistrate Indar Jagroo on Friday afternoon. The charge stemmed from an incident at Train Stop Bar, Manahambre Road, Ste Madeleine on June 1 in which Nedd, 39, was attacked by two men, beaten and chopped on the head with a cutlass.
A video of the incident has been circulating on social media. In his bail application, Brewster’s attorney Ulric Neptune said Brewster has been a member of the Defence Force for five years and nine months. While the offence is serious, he asked that Brewster be granted his own bail. Neptune said a senior Defence Force officer was in court and has given an undertaken to ensure that Brewster attends court.
He further submitted that Brewster was not a flight risk and had no prior incidents. Neptune told the magistrate that when the evidence is presented to the court it will show a different story from what is being portrayed by the police.
Boyce, who is on injury leave, had no attorney. He told the magistrate he has five years service. Prosecutor Sgt Krishna Bedassie did not object to bail but asked the magistrate to take into consideration that the victim lived a street away from both accused.
He read the medical report which stated that the victim had five lacerations—three to the head, the most serious being a 6 cm laceration to the top of the head - as well as one to the upper lip and left palm. Noting a cutlass was used in the attack, the prosecutor said Nedd also had multiple abrasions and soft tissue injuries. He said when the victim went to the hospital there were no available beds and he discharged himself. Noting that the accused had been in custody since Saturday, Neptune also asked the court to consider granting cash bail.
The magistrate approved the men’s mothers to sign for their bail. Warning them to have no contact with the victim directly or indirectly through electronic links or social media, the magistrate said that if the court receives information, which is assessed to be true, that they attempted to contact the victim their bail may be revoked.
They were also ordered to report to the Ste Madeleine Police Station twice a week.
The matter was adjourned to July 5.
