Natraj Frett will know if found guilty or not come January 2015. Photo: VINO/File

The matter was heard in the Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo. Photo: VINO

The piece of evidence was a coaster which he claimed had the inscription, “The skimmer makes the bartender part craftsman, part assassin.” He told the court that it was the ‘assassin’ word on the coaster that he was taken out of context by a Police Officer who had testified that Natraj Frett had uttered the words of being an assassin while the police officer was investigating the matter that subsequently led to his arrest.

That did not find any place as a suitable piece of material evidence for Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo as she told him that at no time previously along the trial did he refer to the coaster or the inscription and as such it would not be accepted into evidence. That brought the trial to a close.

Frett is facing a charge of common assault and one for disorderly conduct, which was alleged to have occurred while at Visions Bar, Huntum’s Ghut on July 12, 2013.

He was accused by a Caucasian woman who had claimed that while she was standing outside the bar the night in question, the farmer, Frett, touched her repeatedly and even went as far as offering to lick her behind using the common term “a..” the full episode of which was caught on camera.

The Virtual Complainant (VC) had testified before Magistrate Baptiste-Dabreo that she went to Visions Bar in Huntum’s Ghut on July 12, 2013 for a friend's birthday party. Within a few minutes of entering the bar she could hear someone shouting over the music as she was talking to a friend. The shouting got louder and closer.

She later realised that the person was behind her so she turned around and saw the defendant Frett. She asked him if he was speaking to her but he allegedly responded: "Do not disrespect me. Where is your man?" She said some friends were standing beside her at the time and saw what was taking place and went between her and defendant and later moved away.

He allegedly approached again and asked: “Which one of these is your man?” After this he allegedly kept saying that he was a dominator and would dominate her. “He said he is a dominator and would give it to me better than any man I know," said the VC. This continued for about an hour where he kept following her around.

Sometime later, the birthday cake came out and a friend began to distribute it to the group and the VC left the club to go outside to sit on a rock from where she dialed 311 and asked for the Police for assistance. Frett allegedly followed her and continued saying inappropriate things. He kept on repeating his telephone number to her and put his leg on the rock and she asked him to remove it.

He also allegedly put his hand on her shoulder repeatedly and she told him to stop touching her. Other friends came outside and she began talking to them and ignoring him but Frett kept interrupting them. This continued until Police came. She said this made her feel violated as she went to a party with friends and was being harassed.

The VC said throughout her ordeal, she tried to keep Frett calm and avoided eye contact and was trying to stay away from him. She also denied threatening him at any time. The woman said she felt violated by the encounter.

During the first of two recordings which continued for nearly fifteen minutes, a male voice identified as Frett was heard repeating a phone number and promising to lick the VC’s a** among other things.

“Do you want to control me? You can control me but I’m a beast. You can control the beast,” the male voice was heard stating on the tape over a backdrop of Bob Marley’s ‘Crazy Baldhead’.

The VC said the incident was no laughing matter for her and said the experience was “kind of surreal but when you go out you don’t expect it to happen [to you]”.

Frett, 38, had pleaded not guilty and from the commencement of the matter in court he was represented by attorney at law Mr. Stephen R. Daniels.

Firing of his attorney

During the VC’s testimony on May 20, 2014 Frett constantly interrupted the court by interjecting and also by raising his hands and requesting to speak to his attorney at various times.

When Daniels cross examined the woman, she agreed that the defendant was smitten by her presence at the bar and said it was not normal behaviour, “I think it was way over the top,” she stated, “I don’t’ think it was appropriate for the situation.”

She did not agree that he was being incoherent and said Frett was making sense but just kept repeating things such as his phone number. Frett also told police when they arrived that he was an assassin.

Prosecutor Herbert Potter attempted to complain after cross examination that the VC was being harassed which was in breach of Frett’s bail conditions but he was reminded that there was a procedure for such an application and told that his claim may prejudice the case against the defendant.

In an abundance of caution, Magistrate Baptiste-Dabreo was asked to remind Frett of the bail conditions which included not having contact with the VC in any form. She complained that Frett allegedly left documents at her workplace but he denied this and said it was done by other persons and this was something he could not prevent happening. “I can’t control the public,” Frett said.

As Frett continued to interrupt, Magistrate Baptiste-Dabreo told him that he had no voice in court and should speak through his attorney unless he revokes his attorney’s rights and decides to represent himself.

Frett then stated that the VC was nothing but trouble since the incident and said he objected to a request by his attorney to introduce an evaluation by Psychiatrist Dr June Samuels. “I need another attorney. As for you [Daniels]… Done!” Frett stated in court. “You are dragging your foot and you’re playing games.”

Magistrate Baptiste-Dabreo then told Frett she felt his attorney was only acting in his best interest but noted that it was his right to change his legal counsel.