Kevin Sutherland, a stevedore of #4 Caesar Ridge Road, appeared in the #6 Magistrate’s Court this afternoon before Magistrate Sharon Frazer and pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated assault against Michael Sutherland and a charge of damage to property.
Kevin Sutherland explained to Magistrate Frazer that his cousin, Michael Sutherland, the person with whom he had an altercation on November 4, 2009, did not want any court action. He told the court that it was the police who were pushing the issue.
“This is a police plot,” Sutherland emphasized.
The aggravated assault was allegedly carried out with a firearm, when Sutherland reportedly fired a number of shots, hitting the rear windshield of a 2009 Nissan Maxima car that is the property of Minister of Works, Anthony “Boots” Martinez. Sutherland’s gunfire also hit the trunk of the car.
According to the damage assessment, Sutherland caused a total of $5,250 worth of damage to the private vehicle.
Minister Martinez was out of the country on government business, media reports say.
Magistrate Frazer explained to Sutherland that she could not offer him bail, because the offence for which he is charged was committed with a firearm. And, besides, Frazer told him, he owes the court for a drug possession fine.
Sutherland explained that he had paid a part of the fine and spent time in prison for the other part of that fine, so he did not owe the court any money.
Frazer replied that the record indicated that he owed the court for another charge of allowing premises to be used for gambling.
But he responded that the police had put the wrong name on a charge sheet. “It is not me; it is my brother”, he protested.
The Magistrate advised him to clear up the matter with the Clerk of Courts, otherwise that information would remain on his record.
She then remanded him into custody until December 28, 2009, when he is to reappear in court.