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Hold-up 'prank' lands Kingston man in jail
BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, January 08, 2011
<A href="mailto:?subject="Hold-up" news JamaicaObserver.com? - Online News Jamaican | www.jamaicaobserver.com http: prank? lands Kingston man jail?&body="Link:" Hold-up--prank--lands-Kingston-man-in-jail_8277358 in>
A 22-year-old man's attempt to play a practical joke on several customers at a cambio in downtown Kingston on Wednesday has landed him a charge of creating public mischief.
Tirane Francis, a Kingston resident, was arrested after he walked into the Woolworth Cambio on King Street and shouted "Hands up everybody! This is a hold-up!" before walking off laughing.
However, he was immediately arrested and charged by a policeman.
A woman, Kimberly Williams — who was with Francis at the time — was also arrested and charged for using indecent language and obstructing the police, after she allegedly told the policeman to leave Francis alone.
Senior Director of Public Prosecutions Dirk Harrison, who raised the matter in court yesterday, told Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser that he was inside the establishment when the incident occurred.
"Everybody was frightened when they heard the sound and looked in the direction that the sound was made only to see the young man walking off laughing as if he thought it was funny," he said.
Harrison said the young man's action was very serious and could have gotten him killed.
"Obviously he is not in sync with what is happening in the world today," the magistrate then said. "These young people today are too giddy-headed."
Francis was offered bail in the sum of $50,000 after he pleaded guilty to the charge. He is to return to court for sentencing on February 8.
Williams also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, but her sentence was changed to $2,000 or 10 days in prison for each charge after the judge was informed that she was a United States citizen and would be returning home next week.
Read more: <A style="COLOR: #003399" href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hold-up--prank--lands-Kingston-man-in-jail_8277358#ixzz1ARwhBADc">http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ARwhBADc
BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, January 08, 2011
<A href="mailto:?subject="Hold-up" news JamaicaObserver.com? - Online News Jamaican | www.jamaicaobserver.com http: prank? lands Kingston man jail?&body="Link:" Hold-up--prank--lands-Kingston-man-in-jail_8277358 in>A 22-year-old man's attempt to play a practical joke on several customers at a cambio in downtown Kingston on Wednesday has landed him a charge of creating public mischief.
Tirane Francis, a Kingston resident, was arrested after he walked into the Woolworth Cambio on King Street and shouted "Hands up everybody! This is a hold-up!" before walking off laughing.
However, he was immediately arrested and charged by a policeman.
A woman, Kimberly Williams — who was with Francis at the time — was also arrested and charged for using indecent language and obstructing the police, after she allegedly told the policeman to leave Francis alone.
Senior Director of Public Prosecutions Dirk Harrison, who raised the matter in court yesterday, told Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser that he was inside the establishment when the incident occurred.
"Everybody was frightened when they heard the sound and looked in the direction that the sound was made only to see the young man walking off laughing as if he thought it was funny," he said.
Harrison said the young man's action was very serious and could have gotten him killed.
"Obviously he is not in sync with what is happening in the world today," the magistrate then said. "These young people today are too giddy-headed."
Francis was offered bail in the sum of $50,000 after he pleaded guilty to the charge. He is to return to court for sentencing on February 8.
Williams also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, but her sentence was changed to $2,000 or 10 days in prison for each charge after the judge was informed that she was a United States citizen and would be returning home next week.
Read more: <A style="COLOR: #003399" href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hold-up--prank--lands-Kingston-man-in-jail_8277358#ixzz1ARwhBADc">http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ARwhBADc