KINGSTON, Jamaica — One man was remanded in custody, while another was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 for disorderly conduct, following an alleged brawl outside the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

Although the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, several police officers were forced to intervene in what seemed to be a brawl between several people at the courthouse entrance.

The accused, Abantu Zulu and Davian Mendez, were subsequently arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. A third person, a woman, was reportedly involved but fled the scene and evaded arrest.

Zulu, who identified himself as a member of the Rastafari community, challenged courtroom protocol, objecting to being addressed as “Mr”, which he described as a British title.

“Not ‘Mr’, Your Honour — Abantu Zulu,” he insisted. “My Honour, I request you to refer to some documents placed on public record prior to this appearance, clarifying my status as not being a ‘Mr’ or subject to any British prefix or anything of the sort.”

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell declined the request, stating that the court operates within the Commonwealth legal system.

“You are in a court that is part of the Commonwealth legal system and those are the rules that apply here,” she said. “Please forgive me if I am following those rules, and please forgive me if I think and insist that dignity and respect for the people who come here is important and must be demonstrated.”

When asked to enter a plea, Zulu refused to say “guilty” or “not guilty”, instead asserting his innocence.

“I am innocent until proven guilty,” he stated. “There is no proof that I committed a crime.”

Despite repeated efforts by the judge to enter a plea, Zulu argued that doing so would amount to entering a contract.

“Consent makes the law, Your Honour. I am being forced into a contract right now. Do I have a right?” he asked.

Zulu was subsequently remanded in custody until June 5, 2025, by Burrell who noted that he was acting in a disorderly manner.  His case management hearing is set for the same date.

His co-accused, Davian Mendez, entered a not guilty plea and was granted bail in the sum of $150,000.

“I actually have video evidence,” Mendez told the court. “The officer is accusing me of something that happened while we were asking to represent one of our friends. He said we couldn’t represent him, and a woman started to record the interaction between Abantu Zulu and the officer. He told her she couldn’t record, and then he assaulted her. That’s when I started recording — that’s what happened.”

Judge Burrell advised Mendez to bring his evidence to trial.

As part of his bail conditions, Mendez is required to report to the Port Royal Police Station every Saturday between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

He is also scheduled to return to court on June 5, 2025.

— Vanassa McKenzie