On Friday May 7, 2021, at approximately 6:40 a.m. Kelroy Edwards, a shelteree at the Lodge Village Government School since the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano earlier this year, was allegedly involved in an early morning tussle over breakfast with Leon Carter, another shelter resident.
Allegedly, Carter was in the line waiting for his breakfast. He was standing behind the defendant but when Edwards, the defendant, reached the front of the line he was refused service by the woman who was serving the food because of his “rude behavior”.
It was also alleged that Carter eventually received his food from said woman, after which Edwards got upset and started cursing at Carter who cursed him back. Carter was approached by another man called Tarfa who started cursing him whilst Edwards took up a shovel and attacked Carter striking him about his body.
When the Edwards was asked why he thought it was an appropriate thing to do, he told the Serious Offences Court, “let me tell you how it go:
“I woke up in the morning, and the breakfast wasn’t ready as yet so I left my cup with the lady and I told her that when she is ready I will come back for my tea.
“So when the lady ready and I came back for my tea because the lady had already thrown it out, this man open his hands in front of me blocking me from getting my tea.
“So I asked him to move his hand let me get my tea, the man start to rinch up himself and talking about bad man an them kinda thing, so the lady see us squaring up with one another and come and hold me back and then carry mister a distance from me.
“Then I see mister coming to me like he has a scissors or something, so I draw the shovel and hit him. Not like I hit him all about his body is his hand alone, twice.”
About 8:55 a.m. on the aforementioned date, the investigating officer cautioned and interviewed the defendant and he admitted to the offence. He was discharged from the station pending investigation.
On Saturday June 26, 2021, the defendant was formally charged for unlawfully wounding Leon Carter.
Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne entered a not guilty plea saying that both parties will “dip it out in court.”
The matter will be heard on August 3, 2021 at the Kingstown Magistrate Court