Judicial Scoop

KINGSTON, Jamaica–Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque remanded a 22-year-old man after learning that the accused allegedly adopted three names and identities to commit fraud.

The man of many names appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday, November 27, 2023.

The authorities charged the accused on an indictment bearing the name Romario Wright. But he is also known by two other names.

Prosecutors contend that on October 19, 2023, Wright allegedly received US$5,300 (approximately $818,000) for purchasing a tractor. However, the complainant has yet to receive it. The police subsequently charged him with fraudulent conversion and obtaining money using false pretense.

The accused admitted to receiving the money from the complainant but only collected the sums on behalf of someone he did not know. He also shared that he has another matter before the court, where the police charged him with receiving stolen property.

The judge ordered that Wright get fingerprinted and requested a social inquiry report on the accused.

“Are you a money mule? Do you just take money and transport it and not say anything? That isn’t very smart. At 22, you should not have so many interactions with the court,” the senior jurist said.

Kingston and St Andrew Parish judge, Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque

The judge remanded the accused in custody until February 15, 2024.

Two sisters brawled over spilled water.

KINGSTON, Jamaica–A domestic dispute over a water spill in a yard has landed two sisters before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Delores Smith and her sister, the complainant, reside at a premises in central Kingston. The complainant arrived home one afternoon, saw Smith throwing water at the front of the yard, making it muddy, and asked her to stop. Smith ignored her sister’s requests.

Instead, Smith doused the complainant with water and hit her on the head with the bucket. The complainant made a report to the police, and they arrested and charged Smith with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Still, when Smith appeared before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, she told the judge that she did nothing to harm her sister.

“Your Honour, I didn’t trouble her. I made a report to the police because she bit me on my ears. Every time I go to the station, they detain me and side with her,” Smith explained.

Delores Smith, deffendant

The arresting officer informed the court that the authorities referred the women to a restorative justice center before coming to court, but efforts to resolve the matter had proven futile.

“Your Honour, she told the person that before she gave me any money, she would rather sleep on the sidewalk,” the complainant explained.

Complainant

Then, the complainant told the judge that she wanted her sister to move out of her property.

Judge Cole-Montaque imposed bail conditions on Smith to maintain the peace between her and the complainant.

Smith is to report to the police once weekly, must not interfere with the complainant, and must not throw water on the premises. The judge also ordered Smith to leave her sister’s premises by December 2.

Smith will return to court on March 11, 2024.