Fight with tenant ends up in court

PHILIPSBURG – The Court in First Instance will pronounce its verdict in a case of public violence on May 16; four men stood trial for the alleged offense on Wednesday. The public prosecutor demanded 15 months against the main suspect, 150 hours of community service against two others, and 5 months of imprisonment against the fourth suspect.

On September 30 of last year, the four were at an apartment belonging to 39-year old Tyrone Etienne M. to help cleaning it out. When the tenant arrived, the men got into a fight, whereby a window of the victim’s car was destroyed  and whereby police later found a firearm and a knuckle duster.

The public prosecutor told the court that Tyrone M., Nyheem Roberto Pierre R. (20) and Mhalik Erico O. (22) had hit the victim and that Akkoye M. (26) had contributed to the public violence, though he did not hit the victim. However, this last defendant was found in the possession of a firearm while he had already two convictions for firearm possession to his name in the past five years.

Nyheem R. was in possession of a knuckle duster, while Akkoye M. had the firearm, though the defendant told the court that the victim had dropped the weapon while he fled for his attackers and that he had only picked it up.

The prosecutor demanded 15 months of imprisonment against Akkoye M., 5 months against Mhalik O. and 150 hours of community service against Tyrone M. and Nyheem R. He also asked the court to grant the victim $750 for damages to his car.

Attorney Shaira Bommel said that her clients Tyrone M. and Mhalik O. deny they committed public violence. She asked the court for an acquittal.

Attorney Brenda Brooks asked the court to acquit her client Akkoye M. of committing public violence and ill-treatment.