By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE attorney representing a social media entertainer who was last year accused of inciting a riot yesterday argued that his client does not have a case to answer.
Prosecutors alleged that Wellington Roberts, Jr, used a megaphone to encourage a crowd of people to “throw the mace out of the House of Assembly” during a protest on Bay Street last year.
Roberts, Jr, was arrested in October 2020 when furloughed Atlantis workers seeking severance pay demonstrated on Bay Street. At the time, he was accused of inciting a riot and behaving in a disorderly manner.
He maintained his not guilty plea during his trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.
Yesterday, his attorney, K Melvin Munroe, told the magistrate he planned to present a no case submission.
In his arguments, he said he found it “interesting” that one of the officers who testified had said that Roberts Jr was arrested for hosting an illegal demonstration, although he claimed it was stopped before anybody could do anything or go anywhere.
When Sergeant Steven Duncombe took the stand last month, he said he was stationed at the demonstration, which was headed by Adrian Francis as part of the ‘Enough Movement’. He said during the protest, a group of about 100 people were shouting slogans like: “Minnis got to go!”
He added that “in the midst of the crowd” was Roberts, who was holding a megaphone in his hand.
“He was encouraging the crowd to stand up for their rights,” Sgt Duncombe testified. “He shouted in the megaphone: ‘The Queen is in charge of the country and she is in London.’ He then told the crowd they should throw the mace out of the House of Assembly again while the House was in session (before) proceeding toward the House of Assembly (while) instructing the crowd to follow him.”
Yesterday, Mr Munroe noted that all of the prosecution’s witnesses admitted the accused did not have a weapon. He also said none of the witnesses said anything that would suggest that the crowd was violent that day.
“None of the witnesses said any other people were arrested besides the accused,” he continued. “This confirms that he did not incite or provoke anyone to act in a violent manner. The prosecution has not made out a prima facie case therefore my client should not be called upon to answer to the charges. The trial judge should stop the trial and direct an acquittal because there is no evidence that a crime was committed by him.”
Magistrate McKinney will deliver his ruling on the no case submission on October 22.
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