Magistrate Graveney Bannister is refuting claims that he “pulled a gun” on a member of the public after his car door sustained damaged last month.
In a statement to the media, Bannister, who is also an Anglican priest, said there was an amicable settlement in the repairs to the vehicle, and he made an official complaint to police about an account of the incident shared widely on social media.
It occurred at Lavada Laundry in the Lears Business Complex, St Michael, on July 24.
The eyewitness said it started after the door of a truck touched the magistrate’s Mercedes Benz.
Bannister said while stationary, he was checking messages and felt the impact, realising “the one parked next to mine had struck my vehicle”.
“I got out to inspect the damage and approached
the driver. He said I would have to wait until he came back out. We came to high words, but at no point did I have a firearm on me, nor did I ‘pull a gun’ on the driver of the other vehicle. I entered the business and insisted the driver give me his details, which he did after some delay,” the statement said.
Bannister said the matter was settled amicably because the other driver worked at a “well-established car sales and auto body repair shop”. They went to the shop that same evening and, by agreement, a damage assessment was done and repairs conducted during the week, he added.
“I have made an official complaint about the erroneous and defamatory report which circulated on social media, and I await the police’s determination as to whether any offence was committed under the Computer Misuse Act,” he concluded.
