A lawyer has described as “unfortunate” the promotion of alcohol consumption in advertisements and music.
Carl Williams expressed this view as he mitigated on behalf of Jorret Johnson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Johnson, a 31-year-old part-time worker in Petit St. Vincent, a farmer and a first-time offender, was fined for assaulting and using indecent language against Police Constable 360 Craigg.
Johnson was reprimanded and discharged on a third charge that he resisted the arrest of the police officer.
The officer was on duty on March 2 at a funeral in Overland, dressed in the uniform of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) when the offences occurred.
Johnson was unrepresented when he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.
However, on Monday, he was represented by Williams and asked that the charges be put to him again. He then pleaded guilty.
“Respect police officers,” Magistrate Kaywana Jacobs told Johnson, noting that Craigg was in uniform.
The facts, read by the prosecutor, Corporal of Police Delando Charles, are that on March 2, at 3:50 p.m., while at the funeral, Craigg went to inquire after seeing two males arguing.
He observed that Johnson appeared to be intoxicated and held on to him to remove him from the scene.
However, Johnson said, “Officer, you cyah f***ing arrest me”.
Johnson then pointed his hand in Craigg’s face and pulled away his hand as Craigg informed him that he was going to arrest him for the offences.
Superintendent of Police Hesran Ballantyne later helped Craigg to restrain Johnson.
In mitigation, Williams told the court that his client was under the influence of alcohol at the funeral.
Williams said the society is such that advertisements and songs encourage alcohol use.
“It’s unfortunate,” he said.
The lawyer asked the court to tempered justice with mercy and not to impose a custodial sentence.
He further asked the court to consider Johnson’s means and impose a fine or compensation as well as allow the defendant time to pay.
He said the funeral was not disrupted.
On the indecent language charge, the magistrate fined Johnson EC$200 to be paid in one month or one month in prison.
On the assault charge, she fined Johnson EC$500 to be paid in three months or three months in prison.