Thursday, August 8, 2024

3 THE STAR NEWS • Thursday, August 8, 2024 @JamaicaStar www.facebook.com/JamaicaStar • www.jamaica-star.com CHRISTOPHER THOMAS STAR Writer A St James man who broke into his father’s house in July, despite an earlier court order for him to be removed from the property, will be sentenced in the St James Parish Court. Delroy Ferguson, 36, of Pitfour, pleaded guilty to housebreaking with intent when he appeared before presiding Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton on Wednesday. The court was told that on July 17, a bailiff came to the home of Ferguson’s father and removed his belongings, in keeping with a previous court order for his removal from the property. Later that day, the complainant returned to the house and saw that his front door was broken into and Ferguson was inside the dwelling. The police were contacted and Ferguson was arrested and charged. “Mr Ferguson, did you break into the house belonging to your father?” Judge Fairclough-Hylton asked. “Yes, because at the time I got a phone call that my things were on the outside and the rain had started falling,” said Ferguson. “Do you have a house for yourself?” Fairclough-Hylton inquired. “No,” Ferguson admitted. “You need to find somewhere for yourself to live, because you cannot live there, and the court made an order that you cannot stay there. I am trying to understand why you defied the order of the court and decided that you were going to go back there, even though the court decided that you cannot stay there,” said the unamused judge. “Don’t you think that the right thing to do is to go back to the court and say ‘I need more time?’ I do not take lightly to persons going against the order of the court,” the judge added. Ferguson was subsequently remanded until September 3, when his criminal record and a social enquiry report are to be brought to court for his sentencing hearing. Son breaks into father’s house TIFFANY TAYLOR STAR Writer C hief Parish Judge Chester Crooks offered bail to a 32-year-old Corporate Area man, after his child’s mother agreed to attend mediation. “I am not minded to grant him bail but if the complainant is minded to attend mediation, I won’t stop her,” the chief parish judge said. Crooks’ opposition followed allegations shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that the accused, Janoi Latchman, used a hammer to beat the complainant all over her body and to destroy a printer. It is alleged that Latchman went to the complainant’s home, took his child’s cell phone and went on WhatsApp. He allegedly watched the complainant’s status then said, “Yuh block me from yuh status.” Latchman allegedly picked up a hammer and started to destroy the printer, then began hitting the complainant, causing bruising and swelling on her thigh, arm, forehead and head. The complainant tried to call the police and Latchman allegedly said, “Weh yuh a call police fah? Me aguh kill yuh. Me and yuh caah lef.” Latchman did not enter a plea to malicious destruction of property and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The complainant indicated that she was willing to attend mediation, “for the sake of her child.” “I am doing it [offering bail] very reluctantly,” Crooks said. Latchman was offered $100,000 bail with one surety and on the condition that he is to report to the police twice weekly. He was also warned by the judge not to interfere with the complainant. The matter was adjourned until November 8. Man allegedly beats babymother with hammer A Corporate Area woman, who pleaded guilty to being a part of an elaborate scheme to traffic ganja seeds to another Caribbean island, said she was promised money to fix her home which was damaged by Hurricane Beryl. The accused, Shanna-Kay Smith, said that she was promised payment of US$18,000 (approximately J$2.8 million) to assist in the reconstruction. Prosecutors contend that Smith went to the Norman Manley International Airport on July 31, to board a Caribbean Airlines flight to an eastern Caribbean island. A powder bottle was found inside her luggage and when it was shaken and searched, ganja seeds were found. “[Name redacted] say him ago gi me US$18,000 to carry the seeds because my roof fly off inna the hurricane. Him say people carry it and nuh get ketch. [Name redacted] meet me a Black River bus park wid the seed dem and him gimme US$300 fi buy weh me wah,” Smith said when cautioned. Smith pleaded guilty to possession of ganja, taking steps to export ganja and conspiracy to export ganja. The Crown decided to offer no evidence on the count of dealing in ganja, following Smith’s not-guilty plea on that charge. Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks requested Smith’s antecedents and a social enquiry report be provided at the next court date to assist with sentencing. Smith was made the subject of a fingerprint order and is to return to court on November 7, when she is to be sentenced. – T.T. Woman caught with ganja seeds at airport