Not only did he have too much alcohol to drink but a 59-year-old man said he also “flipped” when some people said certain things to him yesterday.
Floyd Clarke, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty to having a knife with intent to commit wounding and possession of cannabis.
He however pleaded not guilty to the charges that he assaulted Joseph Lewis occasioning him actual bodily harm and unlawfully and maliciously wounding Veronica Noel all on April 2, 2019. While there were no objections to bail, the prosecutor raised concerns about his no fixed place of abode.
Clarke who wore a bloody bandage on his forehead explained that things had been difficult for him over the last few years as he had not only lost his job but all his possessions were “carried away”.
He made the comments after the prosecutor Sergeant St Clair Phillips onlined the facts on the two offences for which he entered guilty pleas.
Clarke was at Trafalgar Square in the fountain area around 4 p.m. yesterday where he was involved in an altercation with a woman. Police were called in and the knife and the cannabis were found after a search was requested.
“Some people just keep picking on me because I am pretty simple. I had too many drinks yesterday. I met a friend and he offered me a drink . . . I just flipped out when people said things to me . . . I found the knife in the vegetable market and I bought the marijuana for $10,” said Clarke who told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that he needed help in finding a place to live.
“Really and truly I am sorry it happened, it is not a regular occurrence,” he stated.
The magistrate then gave him an opportunity to find a surety but up to the end of the day’s sitting Clarke had no one to sign bail on his behalf and was remand to Dodds until May 2.
He was also placed on a six-month bond in relation to having the knife. If breached he will have to pay the court $750 forthwith or spend three months in prison. He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the cannabis charge.
