Magistrate orders former officer to pay up or do time

Up to press time last night, the fines that the court ordered that ex-police officer Andy Richards pay immediately, had not been paid.{{more}}

Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, yesterday at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, found Richards guilty on six of the seven charges that had been brought against him.

Richards was found guilty on two counts of using indecent language to PC Derek Humphrey and for those, was fined $400 forthwith or spend one month in jail. He was also found guilty of assaulting Humphrey and was fined $300 forthwith or spend one month in prison.

Browne-Matthias also placed Richards on bond for nine months in the sum of $2,000 or in default, he will spend nine months in jail.

Richards was found guilty of assaulting former Acting Deputy Commissioner Lenroy Brewster and was fined $600 forthwith or spend two months in jail. He was also bonded for nine months in the sum of $2,000 or in default, nine months in jail.

For resisting Brewster’s arrest, Richards was bonded for six months in the sum of $1,500 or six months in jail and was placed on the same bond for being found guilty of having an offensive weapon in his possession.

Richards had also been charged with damaging a glass at the Criminal Investigations Department, but was found not guilty.

On May 25, 2012, while at a function in Heritage Square at South River road, Brewster observed Richards and another man becoming involved in an altercation. When Brewster attempted to intervene, Richards cursed him and subsequently struck him with a Hairoun bottle in his chest.

Two other officers, PC Humphrey and Chewitt came to Brewster’s assistance and while taking Richards to the Central Police Station, Richards used indecent language on Humphrey and assaulted him.

Richards was, however, adamant that it was he who was on the receiving end of blows administered by Brewster and Humphrey.

Attorney Duane Daniel represented Richards in the matter and Crown counsel Karim Nelson led the prosecution’s case.(KW)