Machel Montano and Kernal Roberts will know their fates this morning when they reappear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate to be sentenced. Montano and Roberts will stand before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor in the Seventh Court where they are expected to be informed of the penalties they face arising out of an incident outside a nightclub several years ago.
Montano, 37, was found guilty on four counts of assault and using obscene language, while Roberts, 31, was found guilty on two counts of assault. The ruling was handed down by Baboolal-Gafoor on December 10, five years after the trial began. However, sentencing was deferred until today after the magistrate ordered a probation officer’s report for both men and their suitability to perform community service.
Fellow artistes — Joel “Zan” Feveck and Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc — who were jointly charged with Montano and Roberts, were acquitted on two counts and one count of assault respectively. Montano created history when he captured the Road March, Power Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch titles last year.
The four went on trial in 2008 charged with assaulting Russell Pollonais and Brandis Brown, while Montano was slapped with additional charges of assaulting Janelle Lee Chee and Gerard Bowrin and using obscene language. George Busby is prosecuting while Montano is being represented by Dana Seetahal, SC. Keith Scotland and Daniel Khan are appearing for Roberts.
The assault charges were laid under Section 14 of the Offences Against the Person Act, which states: “Any person who unlawfully or maliciously wounds or inflicts any grievous bodily harm upon any other person, either with or without a weapon or instrument, is liable to imprisonment of five years.” While Montano is reappearing before Baboolal-Gafoor, Education Minister Tim Gopeesingh’s son will reappear before Senior Magistrate Annette Mc Kenzie in the Fourth Court.
Shane Aleong, 28, of Ellerslie Park, Maraval, is accused of using a cutlass to “planass” a man outside a Woodbrook bar last September. It is alleged that on September 19, 2012 at Carlos Street, Woodbrook, Aleong used obscene language, assaulted Gregory Wight, occasioning him actual bodily harm, and used a weapon with intent to commit an offence.
Aleong pleaded not guilty and remains out on $25,000 bail. He is being represented by Ravi Rajcoomar and John Heath, instructed by Nalini Bansie.