No bail for silent accused

Kirk Douglas Francis remained mute, refusing to acknowledge when a Bridgetown Magistrate called his name or addressed him in relation to two charges in court on Tuesday.

But after Magistrate Alison Burke remanded him to Dodds and a police officer ordered him to stand, the 40-year-old immediately complied, and waited to be handcuffed before being escorted from the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

Francis, a resident of 2nd Avenue Alkins Land, Eagle Hall, St Michael, is charged with robbing Paul Rollins of $151 and unlawfully destroying a cellular phone belonging to the same man on June 30.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charges.

Police Constable Ralph Pollock said he “strenuously” objected to the accused being granted bail at this time, pointing to the seriousness of the offence and the fact that Francis had numerous antecedents that “show that he has a propensity for this kind of behaviour”.

Rollock added that Francis also had several interactions with the complainant, Rollins, and had been charged previously in connection with the same man.

“I think that we need to send a strong message that this kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated, and therefore we need to let the public understand we have something in place as they go about their business safely,” Constable Rollock told the court.

Following the prosecutor’s submissions, Magistrate Burke asked Francis whether he had heard what had been said. However, the accused remained silent as he sat in the dock, his head bowed.

The magistrate asked again whether he had anything to say on the issue of bail, but again got no response.

Magistrate Burke then remanded Francis to prison until August 20, telling him that he could address her on the issue of bail on his next appearance.