The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

JAMAICAN reggae star Jah Cure found himself in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday accused of committing a misdemeanour that stemmed from an argument that was captured on video and shared thousands of times on social media.

The singer, 39, whose real name is Siccature Alcock, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney alongside his 26-year-old countryman Terefe Mason to face a single charge of “fighting in a public place” in an incident at Paradise Island on Sunday, November 13.

A third named accused, 22-year-old Bahamian national Trevor Thompson, was not present at the arraignment.

However, the singer was later discharged of the offence.

It was alleged that the trio, “while at Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, New Providence and being concerned together with others, did disturb the peace by fighting.”

A conviction for the misdemeanour carries a $150 fine.

The artist, who was in the country for a concert last weekend, pleaded not guilty to the charge when called on by the magistrate during his arraignment.

Mason admitted guilt and was fined $150. If he fails to pay the fine, his alternative punishment would be a month’s incarceration at the Department of Correctional Services.

Jah Cure was subsequently discharged and the matter was adjourned to November 23 when the case will proceed against Thompson.

Police Sgt 603 Moss is prosecuting the matter.

In the video of a portion of the fight circulating online, a woman was seen being thrown to the ground as one of the men who she tried to stop from fighting is pushed down on top of her. She later shrieks as another man in a white shirt is also pushed onto the ground on top of her. She continues to try to stop the fight, trying to physically restrain the men as she best she could.

For the majority of the video, Jah Cure could be seen with his arms outstretched, apparently trying to quell the confrontation along with another man wearing a green shirt.

The artist is later seen trying to evade a barrage of blows from another man near the hotel’s automatic sliding doors, who strikes at him relentlessly. Towards the end of the video, numerous persons, possibly hotel officials, could be seen standing in one of the doorways to the outside of the hotel, with Jah Cure seemingly lying unconscious at their feet.

At a press conference on Monday, the singer said he was not involved in the fight but was trying to be a peacemaker and stop the argument.