The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Court Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were granted bail on separate assault charges yesterday.

Steve Noel Saint, 23, appeared before Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans for allegedly assaulting a police officer, damage and resisting arrest.

At around 10.40am on Junkanoo Beach, Saint reportedly assaulted Sergeant 2694 Hepburn and caused damage to his $300 Samsung A51 phone while resisting arrest.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Saint then told the court that he was swimming that day and claimed that Sgt Hepburn came into the water in full uniform to get him. When the magistrate asked why the officer would do that, Saint said he couldn’t recall.

Saint said all he remembered is that Sgt Hepburn told him to come out of the water as other beachgoers stood up for him saying he was doing nothing wrong.

The defendant further claimed he was abused by the officer and briefly strangled in the water.

Magistrate Vogt-Evans advised Saint to lodge an official complaint separate from his ongoing court matter.

Bail was granted to Saint in the amount of $3,000 with one surety. Under the conditions of his bail, he will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and is expected to sign in at Nassau Street Police Station every Sunday. His trial is set for October 5.

In the second case, Frank Smith, 33, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on a charge of assault.

On July 2, in New Providence, Smith is alleged to have assaulted Shahrista Rolle. In court, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

With no objections to bail, it was granted in the amount of $2,000.

Smith’s trial is set for September 5.