A complainant in a wounding case was cautioned for contempt of court several times on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. He repeatedly made potentially slanderous remarks about an attorney who was not present in court in defiance of the judge’s orders.
Robert Tate, a fisherman, brought his colleague Carlton Falconer to court for striking him with a board during an altercation.
Falconer explained his actions by saying he struck Tate with the board because Tate allegedly stole $22,000 from him. According to the accused man, he and Tate were hanging out on the road in their community. When the money fell from his pocket. Once he realized the money was missing, he asked Tate to return it. He said Tate denied taking the money, and an argument started, resulting in Falconer assaulting him.
“Mi slap him fi true,” Falconer confessed.
After Falconer pleaded guilty to the offense of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague asked Tate if he would like compensation for his injury.
Tate ignored the judge’s question and started ranting about his long-standing feud with Falconer. He alleged he was beaten by Falconer’s friends, including an attorney-at-law who he claimed was a gang leader.
Despite the judge’s best efforts to stop Tate before he potentially slandered the attorney, Tate proceeded to name the attorney, saying he could “stand on that.”
“Sir, you nuh want to slander anybody and anybody go sue you…,” the judge interjected. “I am here about the assault.”
Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montaque
Even after the judge issued several warnings, Tate proceeded to make explosive allegations about the attorney and being ganged upon by Falconer’s friends.
The judge asked Tate repeatedly if he would like compensation for his injury. He eventually answered, “yes.” Then he resumed talking about the attorney.
Tate would continue to rant as the judge tried desperately to determine how much compensation he would like for his injury.
“It is a dangerous thing to call up somebody’s name in the way that you have done it,” she said before Tate attempted to interrupt her again.
“Sir, you would have to go to the police. And make a report. A Falconer one stands up in front of me for assault. So me cya think ‘bout nobody else… mi cya try somebody who is not before me,” the judge said.
Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montaque
“Sir, stop the noise, don’t let me find you in contempt of court. I’m saving you from yourself,” Cole-Montague warned.
The judge issued a fingerprint order for Falconer. And extended his bail, and he is to return to court on February 21, 2023, for sentencing.