The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 34-year-old bus driver who posted a WhatsApp status threatening to kill another man whenever he saw him was fined $1,500 yesterday.

Martin Miller was arrested after he was accused of unlawfully threatening Darcio Rolle with death through writing on August 26.

During a hearing before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday, Martin pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard Mr Rolle told officers Miller, who he also knew as “Rat”, posted a message to his WhatsApp status and recorded an audio message where he said he intended to go to jail for murder. The court was also told the defendant said he planned to travel with a firearm so he could kill the complainant whenever he saw him in person.

The prosecution said as a result of fearing for his life, Mr Rolle filed an official complaint with police. Miller was arrested a short time later and taken to a nearby station where he admitted to the offence in an interview with police.

When given an opportunity to speak yesterday, Miller told the magistrate he and Mr Rolle were bus drivers. He also said the complainant was dating the mother of his children and claimed Mr Rolle had a habit of “sending his boys to bother” with him. The defendant insisted he only wrote the WhatsApp status because the complainant had also threatened him on occasions.

After listening to Miller’s explanation, Magistrate McKinney accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and fined him $1,500. He warned Miller if he failed to pay the fine he would spend one year in prison.