Both the State and defence attorneys representing convicted soca star Machel Montano have filed appeals in the hopes of dismissing the ruling handed down by Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor.
On February 25 Montano was ordered to pay compensation totaling $13,500 and fines totaling $13,700.
On December 10 last year Montano was found guilty of assaulting Gerard Bowrin, Janelle Lee Chee, Brandis Browne and Russell Pollonais during a fracas at the Zen nightclub at the corner of Keate and Frederick streets, Port of Spain on April 26, 2007.
Montano, 38, the reigning Groovy Soca Monarch and joint Power Soca Monarch champion, faced an additional charge of using obscene language, but he was reprimanded and discharged for that offence.
Songwriter Kernal Roberts was found guilty of assaulting Browne and Pollonais. Two other artistes, Joel “Zan” Feveck and Rodney “Benjai” LeBlanc who were also charged alongside Montano and Roberts but were found not guilty. Roberts was ordered to pay compensation totalling $11,000 and fines totalling $13,000. Both men were allowed until March 4 to pay the compensation and fines.
The matter will be heard in the Appeal Court on a date to be fixed.