Fight over tv channel results in man’s first ever charge

A dispute over changing a television channel at a village shop has landed a 33-year-old man before the law courts for the first time in his life.

Renaldo Roman Roach, from Redmans Village, St Thomas, appeared before the District ‘D’ Magistrates’ Court at Cane Garden on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to assaulting Ryan Clarke on August 30, causing him actual bodily harm.

Informing Acting Magistrate Deborah Beckles of the facts, Sergeant Victoria Taitt said the two men had known each other for more than a decade.

On the mentioned date, Clarke was in a shop in Redmans Village watching television when Roach entered, took up the remote from the bar area, and changed the channel.

This led to a verbal dispute between the two men. Roach subsequently went outside and returned with a piece of wood and struck Clarke on his elbow.

The incident was reported to police who began investigations. However, Roach turned himself in on Monday and was charged.

He told the magistrate, among other things, that he did not realise he had hit Clarke with the wood.

A presentencing report was ordered as the accused is not known to the courts.

He was granted $4 000 bail with one surety, in the meantime, and is expected to know his fate when the matter is called again before Magistrate Beckles on December 1.