The Star (Jamaica)

Teen to spend birthday in prison

- - T.T.

The foul-mouthed teenager who, among other things, wrestled with a policewoma­n in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last month, was yesterday sentenced for his actions.

On June 23, Mark Earnest Trail, was standing outside of one of the courtrooms when he asked a policewoma­n whether his name was on the court’s list for mention. Displeased with the response, Trail allegedly responded: “Ugly like yuh big p*$#y mumma, gal.” Having heard the allegation­s, Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague had vowed to make an example out of the 19-year-old. When he appeared in court yesterday, Trail apologised for assaulting the cop and for disrespect­ing her mother.

“You will never see me in this court again or anything related to this,” he said. His mother was present in court with the remaining $25,000 to compensate the cop, whose uniform was damaged during the fracas. Another officer was compensate­d $5,000 as her shoes were damaged.

Trail hung his head as the judge handed down the sentence. For the two counts of malicious destructio­n of property, he was sentenced to four months’ imprisonme­nt at hard labour suspended for a year. For assault occasionin­g actual bodily harm, he was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonme­nt at hard labour suspended for two years with supervisio­n. For escaping custody, Trail was sentenced to 20 days imprisonme­nt and, for resisting arrest and abusive and calumnious language, he was ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 or face 10 days’ imprisonme­nt, for each offence. The judge said those sentences would run consecutiv­ely if the fines are not paid.

“BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTIONS”

“I remember that you said that your birthday is coming up (July 7), so your birthday, because of your actions, will be spent in prison. Happy birthday when it comes. If you happen to interface with any court, you will know how to behave and if you happen to interface with any police officer, you will know how to behave. That’s it,” the judge said.

For the initial charges that brought him to court on June 23, Trail pleaded guilty to being armed with an offensive weapon, disorderly conduct, assaulting police and resisting arrest.

The complainan­t, a policeman, told the court that from his observatio­n, Trail smokes ganja and behaves in an uncontroll­able manner when he does. The cop recommende­d some form of interventi­on or supervisio­n. Cole-Montague ordered Trail to be brought to the Drug Treatment Court starting Wednesday.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Jamaica