LEROY Berry, the taxi operator whose wife was allegedly beaten by special constables in Half-Way-Tree last May after jumping to his assistance during an altercation, was not so lucky last Friday. He was sentenced in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s court to 40 days in prison.

Berry pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful wounding, resisting arrest and possession of an offensive weapon before presiding magistrate Judith Pusey. He was sentenced to 30 days on the unlawful wounding charge and 10 days each on the remaining charges. The 10-day sentences will run concurrently, leaving Berry to serve only 40 days in prison.

The police reported that last Tuesday, Berry was operating his taxi in the Half-Way-Tree area when he was signalled to stop by the police. Berry, however, disobeyed the police and sped away. He was subsequently stopped by the police in New Kingston.

However, in efforts by the police to apprehend him, Berry allegedly locked himself in the car, refusing to open the doors. But the police were able to enter the car after a passenger who was in the vehicle during the altercation hastily jumped out of the vehicle.

As they attempted to lay hands on him Berry allegedly pulled a machete on the officers. Some time later he was held and charged by the police.

Berry and his wife Margaret Berry shot to national prominence on May 10 last year after they were reportedly harassed and beaten by members of the Island Special Constabulary Force in Half-Way-Tree.

An altercation reportedly developed between Berry and the officers after Berry was accused of operating an illegal taxi. His wife intervened and she was allegedly beaten by several police officers.

Several exclusive Observer photographs brought the beating to national attention. But the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions later ruled that no charges were to be laid against the officers involved in the beating. However,

Margaret Berry was slapped with seven criminal charges and her husband with three arising out of the same incident. They are scheduled to reappear in court on May 3 on these charges.

A few days after the Half-Way-Tree incident, Berry was shot by unknown assailants.

His troubles, however, did not end there as several weeks later police seized his car and charged him with dangerous driving. Berry had reportedly sat in his car for three hours when the police attempted to seize it on grounds that he was contravening the Road Traffic Act. The charge was later reduced to careless driving.

He was, however, acquitted of the charge after appearing in the Corporate Area Traffic Court.