The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribubemedia.net

A 27-year-old man confronted another man with a piece of nail-ridden wood for firing gunshots near his mother’s home, a court was told.

Police arrested Valentino Louis after he got into an argument with Davante Johnson on May 16.

He pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous instrument when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis.

The court was told that the complainant had told police he was walking through Strachan Subdivision around 9.35am on the day in question, when Louis attacked him with a knife and a piece of wood. After he filed a formal complaint, Louis was arrested. When he was questioned at the East Street police station, he admitted being involved in a physical and verbal argument with the complainant, but denied using a knife or piece of wood during the argument.

The prosecution said that on the same day, officers who were investigating the matter reviewed footage that showed Louis having an argument with the complainant while he was armed with an object. He was subsequently charged.

During the hearing, Louis told the magistrate that although he had the wood in his hand, he did not hit the complainant with it. He claimed he was visiting his mother’s home that day and was told that the “boy was causing trouble by shooting through his corner”. He said when he tried to confront the young man “to see what was going on”, an argument broke out.

“I took matters into the wrong hands and I apologise,” he said.

As a result, Magistrate Rolle Davis told Louis to contact the police the next time he or his family saw something going on in the neighbourhood. He also said he considered the fact the accused had no antecedents and placed him on probation for one year.

Magistrate Rolle Davis said if Louis failed to be of good behaviour during that time, he would be sentenced to nine months in prison.