Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
WESTERN BUREAU

A February 13 trial date has been set in the case against St. James vendor, Audley Russell, who allegedly used a knife to injure a St. James Parish Council employee in July this year.

The outstanding medical report was placed on the case file on Wednesday and a trial date set when the matter was mention in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Russell, a 32-year-old resident of Rose Heights, St. James is facing a charge of unlawful wounding and is being represented by attorney-at-law Dalton Reid.

It is alleged that on July 9 the complainant was among several security officers who were carrying out an anti-vending exercise on Railway Lane. Several handcart vendors, including the accused was seen and told to move their carts to the Charles Gordon Market.

It is further alleged the officers attempted to confiscate the goods after Russell refused to move. Russell allegedly pulled a knife from his back pocket and cut the complainant on his left arm. He also allegedly stabbed the complainant in the chest causing the complainant to run from him. While running the complainant saw three police officers on patrol and reported the matter. Russell was subsequently apprehended and the bloody knife recovered.

However on his first appearance before the court Russell said that he did leave the scene with his cart but had returned to retrieve his scale. He said that the complainant used the scale to hit him and he retaliated using his knife.