Man remanded after denying Boxing Day attacks

Accused of criminal damage, assault and wounding two people, including his own father, on Boxing Day, Uriah Wilbur Smith has been remanded to Dodds Prison until next month.

The 32-year-old of no fixed address appeared before Magistrate Alison Burke and pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding his father, Desmond Smith, and Leroy Morris and to assaulting Corlene Straughn, occasioning her actual bodily harm.

He also denied criminally damaging Smith’s van. 

Police Constable Cindy Greaves raised objections to his release, highlighting the number of complainants, the need to protect the public, the strength of the evidence, and that a weapon had allegedly been used in the commission of two of the offences.

“If granted bail, there is the belief that this accused would make a mockery of the judicial system,” the prosecutor said.

Smith, however, said: “These lies are making a mockery of the system,” claiming that he had been the victim in the case.

“They attacked me, and in my defence, I retaliated. I am currently covered in wounds from my head to my toes,” he said.

“Are you taking your medication?” Magistrate Alison Burke asked, to which the accused replied, “No, I don’t need it.”

Denying his bail application, she remanded him to Dodds Prison until January 26, 2026.