Kingstown – The Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ashelle Morgan, was released on EC$2 000 bail on Friday after she appeared in the Serious Offences Court on a charge of wounding, following an incident on April 13 that left a 60-year-old man nursing a gunshot wound.
Morgan pleaded not guilty to the charge that she assaulted businessman Cornelius John with intent to commit an offence to wit, wounding. She, along with the Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Karim Nelson, appeared before Chief magistrate Rechanne Browne.
Nelson pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on charges that on April 13, at Diamond, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded John, and that on the same date and place, he unlawfully discharged a firearm at John, who also faces three charges arising out of the incident.
Nelson was granted composite bail in the sum of EC$10 000 with one surety and was ordered to surrender his passport. The court also ordered him to have no contact with the virtual complainant and ordered that stop notices be placed at ports of entry and exit.
The prosecution alleges that John, on April 13, at Diamond, “used threatening language to Nicole John.
He is a further charged that on the same date and place, he “used threatening language to Nicole John, in circumstances likely to cause a breach of the peace”.
A third charge is that on April 13, at Diamond, he “used threatening language to Ashelle Morgan in circumstances likely to cause a breach of the peace.
John pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was not in court when his matter was called, initially, and his lawyer, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, told the court that her client was at the hospital seeking medical treatment.
Chief Magistrate Browne granted EC$2 500 bail for John under his own recognisance, meaning he was not required to provide a surety. The court further ordered him to have no contact with the virtual complainant and adjourned and transferred the matter to the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court for hearing on July 5.
Director of Public Prosecution Sejilla Mc Dowall did not object to bail for any of the defendants. (CMC)
