ST MARY, Jamaica — A People’s National Party (PNP) supporter from Annotto Bay in St Mary who was accused of assaulting a man during campaigning ahead of the February 2024 Local Government Election was freed in the St Mary Circuit Court late last week.

Sixty-year-old Basil Cole had been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after it was alleged that he injured a man’s eye during an altercation at a bar.

Reports are that both men were at a bar in Annotto Bay when they became involved in a dispute over politics. The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation, during which the complainant was struck in the eye. It is further reported that the complainant later lost vision in that eye.

Cole was subsequently arrested, charged and brought before the St Mary Circuit Court for a two-day trial.

Cole’s attorney, Charles A Ganga-Singh, petitioned the court for the matter to proceed as a judge-only trial.

During the trial, Ganga-Singh maintained that his client had been having a cold drink on a warm day when he was approached by the complainant and questioned about a political matter.

According to Cole’s testimony, the complainant raised his hand while holding a bottle in a manner that suggested he was about to strike him. Cole said he pushed the complainant away and then left the bar.

Under cross-examination by Ganga-Singh, the prosecution’s witness reportedly confirmed Cole’s version of the events.

Presiding judge, Justice Tara Carr, returned a verdict of not guilty.