Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
A man employed as a driver reportedly took offense to being called an "anti-man" and allegedly body slammed another man for making the remark.
Randy Ashton, 35, a native of St. Vincent who has been living in the BVI for decades, pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared in the Magistrate's Court on Friday, August 17.
According to the allegations presented to the Court, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was sitting outside the U.P's Cineplex building on October 13, 2011 when he held on to Ashton and they began to fight after a brief exchange of words.
Senior Crown Counsel, Sarah Benjamin told the court that the defendant dealt the VC a fist to the right eye and body slammed him on the ground.
According to the allegations, while on the ground, the defendant continued to hit the VC.
A report was made and the responding officer observed injury to the VC's right eye.
The allegations further stated that Ashton was met on October 16, 2011 at 7:25 am and he explained to Police that he was passing outside the Cineplex when the VC, who he knew, asked for a dollar. Ashton told Police that he related to the VC that he had no money. The VC, Ashton told Police, replied by saying, "anti-man".
Ashton claimed he told the VC that the statement was disrespectful and it was then that the VC approached him in an aggressive manner as if he wanted to fight. According to the allegations, Ashton held on to the VC and that is when the struggle began.
Benjamin outlined that the VC told Police on October 16 that he would have given a statement later that day, but he never did.
Magistrate Tamia Richards granted bail in the amount of $35,000 signed surety.
Ahston plans to represent himself and will return to court on September 12.
