Assault accused remanded to prison after failing to show up at court

The failure of a St Michael man to follow procedure has landed him on remand at Dodds for the Yuletide season.

When Oneil Ricardo Riley’s matter was being dealt with, it appeared that the Goddings Road, Station Hill, St Michael resident did not understand that his failure to attend court after his release from Dodds back in March had landed him back at the St Philip facility.

Riley, who is facing a November 30, 2011 charge of assault with intent to rape a woman, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court after a warrant of arrest had been issued for him.

He said he turned up for court after a marshall had contacted him.

Riley explained that he left jail on March 19 and suffered a stroke. He claimed that, on his release, he had asked prison officials about a date to attend court and was told that the court would contact him.

The Chief Magistrate queried whether Riley had approached the court immediately after his release, or on the days and months subsequently, to which he replied: “No please, Sir.”

Weekes told him: “I must be able to find you, so I will bring you back in January. There is a procedure to be followed. You did not follow procedure. When you are ill, bring in the document. You cannot expect to walk around, having left prison, ignoring the court.”

The accused, who had been on $10,000 bail, then exited the dock and made for the door, prompting the Chief Magistrate to ask, “Where are you going?”

After a policeman stopped Riley, the magistrate told him: “You are remanded. . . . I went through all of that to tell you, you didn’t turn up and you think you gine home?”

Riley’s pleas to remain on bail were denied.

He will reappear before the Chief Magistrate on January 17, 2022.