‘Dark days’

Twenty-eight “dark days” at HMP Dodds were an “eye opener” for a 19-year-old accused, his lawyer has said.

That successful argument was put forward by attorney-at-law Harry Husbands as he made a bail application on behalf of Tre Terique Sandiford of Sundown Drive, Skeetes Road, Jackman, St Michael today.

Sandiford previously pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Stefon Chandler and Tiana Gittens on November 8, 2018.

He was not required to plea to the indictable charge that he caused serious bodily harm to Dashawn Fagan on January 30, 2019, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him.

On his first appearance in court back in March he was remanded to prison and Constable Kevin Forde renewed the objections to bail based on the seriousness of the offences, the fact that the accused was already on bail for two other offences and there were fears that he would re-offend.

In his submission for bail Husbands did not shy away from that fact that his client already had pending charges before the court or that the new cases were indeed serious. However, he said those charges were mere allegations at this time and his client was innocent until proven otherwise.

“The last 28 days has been an eye opener for him . . . 28 dark days of his life as a young man . . . and if given the opportunity to go out there and support himself the court will not be disappointed,” Husbands told Magistrate Graveney Bannister who ruled in favour of the defence.

With a warning against interfering with the complainants involved in the case, Sandiford was granted $10,000 bail, which he secured with one surety.

He will reappear in the in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court on June 25.