Career conman Alister ‘Tombstone’ Millington-Smith was hauled before the Mespotamia Magistrate Court on yet another deception charge. He was arraigned last Friday on allegations that he, “by deception, dishonestly obtained 66 cases of Hairoun products valued at EC$4434.08, the property of St. Vincent Brewery Limited of Campden Park with the intention of permanently depriving them of it.”
‘Tombstone’ quietly pleaded not guilty to all 3 offences as they were read out to him by Magistrate Bertie Pompey.
Prosecutor Renrick Cato promptly objected to Tombstone’s bail which was only interrupted because Magistrate Pompey observed that he had not realized who the accused was even though Cato alluded to his infamy earlier in the arraignment proceedings.
At the time he requested of the judge, before “the charges were put to” Tombstone, that an amendment be made to the name that was recorded on the charge sheet from which the alleged offences were to be read.
“Your Honor, before the charges are read to the defendant, the prosecution is asking for an amendment to add the surname Smith to that surname [to make it] Alister Millington-Smith,” Prosecutor Cato entreated.
“He’s well known to everybody as Alister Smith your Honor. I don’t know since when he’s Millington,” Cato continued.
“Maybe he’s getting too popular as Millington,” the Magistrate Pompey rejoined as he made the necessary notations.
The prosecutor explained that Millington was the name in the passport that was brought to Court with the many times convicted conman.
“You know something? Even at the time when you asked for the amendment, I didn’t know it was this man you know,” Magistrate Pompey, a former Deputy Police Commissioner, observed.
“I was writing so I didn’t really look at him but now I look at him he get bigger, unkempt and everything. You have to keep yoself properly man.
“I didn’t see – and you look older than the person I know as Alister Smith. Where you been all the time overseas?” Pompey continued.
Tombstone took the opportunity to jumpstart his defence.
“Yes, your Honor,” he began, meekly.
Then, with more conviction, he pressed on.
“Your Honor, if you check my passport the date of what they charge me for, I was overseas. The stamp in my passport to show that I was not even here –”
Magistrate Pompey seamlessly interjected, “Well I am not here trying your matter, you say you’re not guilty and that’s enough.”
At this point, Cato refocused the Court’s attention on his pending bail objection.
“Yes, your Honor. The prosecution objects to bail for the defendant. At the center of this matter, your Honor, a checkbook is involved – as it relates to this matter, your Honor.
“There are other matters that the police are investigating that involves the said checkbook. And your Honor that checkbook is yet to be recovered and we are fearful, if bail is granted to the defendant, that he would hinder or obstruct the investigation as it relates to the recovery of that checkbook, your Honor.
“So, we are asking that he be remanded into custody, your Honor, and that the matters be transferred to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court at a date, your Honor, maybe the end of August or early September.”
Bail was denied as was the application to have Tombstone’s latest trial be removed from Pompey’s jurisdiction.
He would return to Mesopotamia on August 3 for a bail review but until then Tombstone has been “remanded into custody to allow them to continue with their investigations”.
Tombstone, who appeared without a lawyer, also entered not guilty pleas to charges which claims he was caught, in Arnos Vale on July 27, driving without a driver’s permit and the vehicle he was using, PA813, was uninsured.