Inside the courts
Man returns to court Thursday for unlawful possession of card machine
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man found in possession of a card machine for which he couldn’t account will be back before the St James Parish Court this Thursday.
Demitri Ffrench, a Kingston resident, appeared before presiding judge, Kaysha Grant-Pryce last Friday to face a charge of unlawful possession of property.
According to court files, on June 28 security personnel at Hyatt Hotel in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, were carrying out routine checks when they spotted the accused on the property. He was accosted and questioned, and it was discovered that he was not a guest at the hotel.
When the police arrived they found the accused with a black knapsack containing a card machine, for which he could not properly account. He was subsequently arrested and charged.
The prosecution did not oppose bail last Friday but expressed concern that Ffrench had no ties to St James and asked for strict conditions if he were granted bail. Following an application by his attorney, Chumu Paris, the judge offered the defendant bail in the sum of $200,000 with up to two sureties. He was also instructed to report to a specific police station three days per week.
Sept 1 trial for man after hammer attack on dad
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A St James man who has accused his son of hitting him in his head with a hammer is determined that the case should go to trial, and he wants his son to face the full brunt of the law.
The defendant, Troy Jarrett, was given a September 1 trial date and had his bail extended when he appeared in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday to face the unlawful wounding charge. Parish judge, Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley presided over the matter.
In a previous appearance the father stated unequivocally that he wanted his son imprisoned. Attempts to settle the matter through mediation failed, and efforts to have them try mediation again last Wednesday were useless since the father refused to participate.
Meanwhile, attorney-at-law Henry McCurdy, who was representing the defendant, withdrew from the case, forcing Jarrett to seek new representation.
According to the prosecution’s case file, on March 22 the complainant visited his daughter’s house in Cornwall Courts where he and his son got into an argument.
During the dispute Jarrett allegedly took a hammer belonging to his father and struck him in the head, causing a wound.
