Man on robbery charge freed

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man who allegedly robbed a tourist from New Zealand of a digital camera and more than $64,900 last year was freed of the charge when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Desmond Pratt, of a Montego Bay address, was charged for larceny from the person. Reports are that he robbed the tourist of a Sony digital camera, US$530 and J$11,000.

"Efforts had been made to get the complainant here," Clerk of the Court Orrett Brown told presiding magistrate Wilson Smith, adding that the complainant had since returned to New Zealand.

But attorney-at-law Tamika Spencer, who represented Pratt, said that the matter ought to be dismissed from the court's case list since there had been no progress in prosecuting the matter.

"The matter has been before the court since last year, and we have had several trial dates. We are wasting judicial time," said Spencer. "I would ask that this matter be dismissed for want of prosecution."

Smith subsequently cleared Pratt of the charge and dismissed the case.

"The witness is not forthcoming, and the matter is dismissed for want of prosecution," the magistrate told Pratt before allowing him to leave the courtroom.