Man accused of chopping off friend's hand to appear for preliminary hearing

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James farmer, who allegedly cut off another man's hand in 2011 during a dispute over rum, had his case set for preliminary examination on June 17, when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Twenty-four-year-old Oneil Pinnock of a Maroon Town address is charged with felonious wounding committed against Omar Campbell.

It is alleged that, on August 15, 2011, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Pinnock and Campbell got into an argument over rum, during which the accused chopped and severed the left hand of the complainant, using a machete.

However, Pinnock had previously told the court that Campbell had attacked him with a machete after Pinnock intervened in a dispute Campbell was having with a shopkeeper.

When the case was mentioned on Tuesday, there was a brief moment of confusion as to who was Pinnock's lawyer.

"Mr Chumu Parris' name is listed (as Pinnock's attorney), but the accused man is saying that Mr Albert Morgan appears for him," said clerk of the court Reginald England.

"Did you retain your lawyer, or was it a legal aid assignment?" presiding magistrate Wilson Smith asked the defendant.

"It was a legal-aid assignment, your honour," Pinnock answered.

The court was also told that Pinnock's case, which was already on the preliminary examination list, was slated to be heard before another magistrate.

"It was listed before your sister judge, so I am trying to set a convenient date ... I am looking at June 17," said England, after perusing his court diary.

"The matter is set for preliminary examination on June 17," RM Smith agreed, before extending Pinnock's bail.