Spanish Town

A St Catherine man, who was overheard telling persons that he either wanted to be sentenced or "dem done wid mi case now", had his wish granted in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court when he was given six months' hard labour.

Mark Barnes, of Spanish Town, St Catherine, who is charged with unlawful wounding, wept bitterly after he was sentenced by Resident Magistrate Marcia Dunbar-Greene.

Constable Rachel Henry told the court that on December 10, Barnes and the complainant were involved in a minor traffic accident, when he got boisterous and chopped the complainant in the head.

In his defence, Barnes told the court that he was in a fight with the complainant and he punched him and he fell, hitting his head on the car door, and that is how he got the cut.

Chop mi

The complainant denied this, explaining, "Your Honour, after the accident, near Innswood Village, 'im stop down the road, him grab out mi car key and start to argue that a 'im run round here. And is when mi go fi the key, 'im draw the machete and chop mi."

Having heard this, the RM said she believed the complainant and that Barnes had, in fact, pleaded guilty and his explanation defied logics.

While being led from the court, Barnes was overheard asking loudly: "My yout, wah mek yuh do mi this an yuh know mi have mi business fi do?"