Ice-pick costs vendor $10,000

May 30, 2012 News

A man who pleaded guilty to having an ice-pick in his possession without reasonable cause was yesterday fined $10,000 by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charge stated that on May 25 at Avenue of the Republic, John Beckles, without lawful authority, had the item in his possession and could not give a reasonable response as to why he did.
The court prosecutor said that on the day in question, around 22:45 hours, a Cadet Officer (CO) and other ranks were patrolling north on the western carriageway of the Avenue of the Republic, when the CO observed the defendant riding a bicycle.
The prosecutor said the defendant took something out his pants waist and stuck it at the front of his bicycle. He was stopped by the CO who identified himself as a policeman. A search was conducted on the defendant and his belongings. A grey-handled metal ice-pick was recovered. The police further explained that Beckles could not give a reason as to why he had the ice-pick.
He was subsequently taken to the Brickdam Police Station where he was told of the offence and later charged.
After the information from the police was read, the defendant started to explain to the court that he is a vendor who for the past three months operated outside the White Castle Fish Shop on Friday nights. He continued that he kept the weapon for his business. But before he could finish his explanation, Beckles was asked if he ever related that information to authorities. He replied in the negative.
Beckles was asked why at no point, before facing the court, he had related his story to the police. The court said it was not accepting the defendant’s story since at no time did he seek to clarify the matter.
Later, Beckles alleged that on the night in question, the police officers were high. He said he could have smelt the alcohol on their breaths.
The Magistrate however said that the policemen’s state was not the issue, she needed answers in relation to the offensive weapon matter.
Beckles was subsequently told that he would have to pay the fine forthwith or he would have to face an alternative penalty. The man said his sister was outside the court and she would pay. But after the police called the sister’s name a few times and she did not appear, Beckles asked the court to give him the alternative penalty which involved imprisonment.
He was however spared when a cousin of his entered the court and said she would pay the fine for him.

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Ice-pick costs vendor $10,000

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