Jamal Rawson Renaldo Haynes was left holding his head in despair as he sat in the dock of the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court waiting to be transported to Dodds Prison on Tuesday afternoon.
The 38-year-old autobody repairman of Johnson Land, Green Hill, St Michael had moments earlier denied assaulting Hallan Lashley on November 18.
When the issue of bail arose, Sergeant Randolph Boyce questioned whether the accused had any matters pending before the court. Haynes admitted that he was currently on bail from that court and court No. 2.
The prosecutor then objected to Haynes’ release, citing the new Bail Act.
“The Bail Act speaks to the persons who are making a mockery of the bail system and the judicial system by constantly getting their name called. It is not that we are trying to get him, it is that the behaviour that is causing him to constantly be before the court on matters has to be of concern to the prosecution and that is why we have to stand and say we are objecting,” Boyce said in his submissions before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes.
Haynes told the court that he had recently been released from prison and was trying to turn his life around.
“I now come home from remand. I am working and people coming around me with foolishness. I begging for a chance, Sir. I trying to change my life around,” the accused pleaded.
However, the chief magistrate informed Haynes that he would be remanded to Dodds Prison as granting of bail must not be viewed “as a joke thing”.
“With this new Bail Act, they are saying that courts are granting bail to people and then the people coming back and getting bail on another charge and another charge…. They are saying that people are making a mockery of this bail thing,” Weekes said.
Haynes will return to court on December 5.
