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Lawyer says wide-scale publicity in Neto Meeks' case could hurt defence
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
NETO Meeks, son of Amina Blackwood-Meeks and university professor Brian Meeks, had his bail extended when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday answering to a charge of unlawful wounding.
Meeks is alleged to have severely beaten his spouse's sister, Charah Watson, following a disagreement between the two. Watson, in the meanwhile, is also facing a charge of unlawful wounding following allegations that she bit Meeks during the altercation.
Speaking on behalf of Meeks, attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend told the court that as a result of Watson's publicising of her altercation with Meeks, he had already been deemed guilty in the eyes of the public without being tried. This, he said, had the potential to negatively impact his defence.
He also stated that several threats had been made against his client in the last two weeks since the incident was made public.
However, Watson's attorney, Valerie Neita-Robertson, dismissed Townsend's claims, saying that the actions taken by her client were in proportion to the injuries she allegedly received from Meeks. She added, however, that she would instruct her client to refrain from publicising the incident further.
When further instructed by the investigating officer that the medical report on Watson's injuries was still pending, the presiding magistrate, Glen Brown, opted to have the matter rescheduled for December 6. He then extended Meeks' bail and ordered that his fingerprints be taken.
The Grants Pen police told the Observer that Meeks, a poet, was slapped with charges of unlawful wounding, malicious destruction of property and possession of marijuana after Watson reported to them that Meeks had allegedly attacked and wounded her on September 28.
Allegations against Meeks are that he was at a premises on Shortwood Road when Watson entered. The police said they got reports that Meeks allegedly attacked her and held her in a 'choke hold' while pressing his knee into her lower back.
He is also accused of inflicting several bite wounds and cuts to the woman, in addition to kicking in a door to a bedroom where she had locked herself in. The police also claimed that Meeks stabbed his accuser in the face. He was allegedly found with ganja in his possession when he was picked up.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
NETO Meeks, son of Amina Blackwood-Meeks and university professor Brian Meeks, had his bail extended when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday answering to a charge of unlawful wounding.
Meeks is alleged to have severely beaten his spouse's sister, Charah Watson, following a disagreement between the two. Watson, in the meanwhile, is also facing a charge of unlawful wounding following allegations that she bit Meeks during the altercation.
Speaking on behalf of Meeks, attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend told the court that as a result of Watson's publicising of her altercation with Meeks, he had already been deemed guilty in the eyes of the public without being tried. This, he said, had the potential to negatively impact his defence.
He also stated that several threats had been made against his client in the last two weeks since the incident was made public.
However, Watson's attorney, Valerie Neita-Robertson, dismissed Townsend's claims, saying that the actions taken by her client were in proportion to the injuries she allegedly received from Meeks. She added, however, that she would instruct her client to refrain from publicising the incident further.
When further instructed by the investigating officer that the medical report on Watson's injuries was still pending, the presiding magistrate, Glen Brown, opted to have the matter rescheduled for December 6. He then extended Meeks' bail and ordered that his fingerprints be taken.
The Grants Pen police told the Observer that Meeks, a poet, was slapped with charges of unlawful wounding, malicious destruction of property and possession of marijuana after Watson reported to them that Meeks had allegedly attacked and wounded her on September 28.
Allegations against Meeks are that he was at a premises on Shortwood Road when Watson entered. The police said they got reports that Meeks allegedly attacked her and held her in a 'choke hold' while pressing his knee into her lower back.
He is also accused of inflicting several bite wounds and cuts to the woman, in addition to kicking in a door to a bedroom where she had locked herself in. The police also claimed that Meeks stabbed his accuser in the face. He was allegedly found with ganja in his possession when he was picked up.
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