A man was offered bail in the sum of $120,000, despite objections from his complainant, who told the judge that he has been receiving death threats from persons associated with the accused.

The accused, Orville Williams, was offered bail on Tuesday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court for the offence of unlawful wounding.

It was alleged that on June 23, Williams and the complainant, whose name is being withheld for his protection, had an altercation in their St Andrew community. Although the cause of the altercation wasn’t revealed in court, Williams allegedly used a ratchet knife to stab the complainant on the right side of his stomach and the back of his neck.

The complainant was hospitalised for two days.

The case was mentioned on Tuesday to confirm whether or not Williams’ sister would be able to house him, as he would be required to leave that community, once he took up the bail offer.

After his sister’s address was verified in court, bail in the sum of $120,000 was offered.

However, hearing this, the complainant spoke up for the first time in court.

“I don’t think this man deserves bail. I keep on getting threats by his people.”

“Have you received threats while he has been in custody?” Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague asked. The complainanat replied “yes.”

The complainant went on to explain that he was even threatened on October 20.

“Him people dem just a nag mi and seh if mi nuh get [him] out a jail what dem a go do to me. I had to move last night from over there because my life is threatened,” he said.

Acknowledging his position, Cole-Montague explained, “I am very sorry about that and the discomfort that you are feeling. It is on that basis why I impose, for example, that he is not to contact you and he is to report to the police station. A man is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, that’s something I bear in mind, and there is nothing said before now that would have given the court any strong basis to deny him what is his right to bail.”

She also encouraged him to report all threats to the police and have them do the necessary investigations.

Williams was also ordered to have no contact with the complainant and to surrender all travel documents, as well as report to the nearest police station on Wednesdays.

But, after hearing the complainant’s objection to the bail offer, the judge added that Williams is also required to report to the police station on Saturdays.

On the last court date, October 3, the accused indicated that he was willing to make restitution to the complainant, and the complainant had said he would accept $150,000.

Both parties are to return to court on November 21 to start the restitution process.