KINGSTOWN – The prosecution on Wednesday withdrew the wounding charge against Annamay Lewis, the woman who was accused of striking Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves in the head on August 5 during a protest.
Crown Counsel Renee Simmons withdrew the wounding charge against Lewis when the matter came up for trial at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court.
This meant that Lewis, a 56-year-old vendor of Layou, would only now be tried on a charge that on August 5 in Kingstown in a public place, she threw missiles to the danger of people who were present.
The development came a day after Lewis’ lawyers, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste and Israel Bruce predicted that the prosecution would take that course of action.
“I think this underscores the point I have been making all along that these cases, including all the cases they have brought recently against the protesters, are political cases,” Bacchus-Baptiste told CMC after Wednesday’s court hearing.
“The police are busy using their time watching videotapes and trying to find evidence to arrest protesters rather than doing the business of solving real crime.
“It is very disheartening to have the head of CID being involved in her arrest and then the charge is dismissed.”
Simmons told the court that she was not ready for trial in the remaining matter and asked for an adjournment.
Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett set the trial for January 4 next year.
(CMC)
