Marsham waiting his turn to enter the Magistrate’s Court on May 29, 2012. Photo: VINO

Kevin Stoddard and Cecil Marsham appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday May 29, 2012 to answer assault charges.

Stoddard, who is slapped with inflicting grievous bodily harm, was not required to plea since it’s an indictable offense. However, Marsham pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In outlining the facts, Crown Counsel Janice Stoutt told the court that Police responded to a report of assault on May 25 at about 11 p.m. in Baugher's Bay, and upon arrival met both defendants.

Marsham told the Police that around 10:30 p.m. he was coming down the road and stopped by a mango tree to ask Stoddard aka Trinity a question and “he started to chop me”.

The 48 year-old driver also claimed he asked Stoddard “what happen” and Stoddard allegedly took up a "2×4" and lashed him across his hand and hit him in his head.

However, Stoddard gave officers his version of what occurred.

According to Stoddard, he was sitting under the mango tree and observed Marsham walking down the road, apparently drunk. He said Marsham was cursing, and when he approached where Stoddard was sitting, allegedly said, “All you young boys feel that all you bad.”

Stoddard, who is the owner of a car wash, told Police that at that point he got up and walked away because it appeared to him that the other defendant was looking for trouble.

But when he turned his back he felt a burning sensation to the back of his neck and when he touched the spot there was blood. He got upset and allegedly hit Marsham.

Both were taken to Peebles Hospital where Stoddard was treated for abrasions and Marsham for a fractured hand.

Marsham was granted bail in the sum of $30,000 with one signed surety and has to return to the Road Town Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He has to hand over his travel documents and return to court on July 20, 2012.

Stoddard was offered bail in the sum of $45,000 signed surety and to surrender his travel documents and report to the Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He has to return to court on July 26, 2012.