Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A Montegonian security guard who reportedly hit a man on the hand with a board, injuring the complainant's thumb, will return to court on November 22.

Lloyd Kerr pleaded guilty with explanation to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

But after hearing Kerr's explanation, Resident Magistrate (RM) Winsome Henry changed the plea to not guilty. Kerr told the court that the complainant, Donald Lyons, has broken into several buildings in the Bogue shopping plaza and that on the day in question, he caught the complainant with materials from an unfinished building in the area.

Kerr further explained that when he confronted Lyons, the complainant swung the building materials at him and he retaliated.

"This man has been plaguing the area," Kerr declared of Lyons in his explanation.

"From what you are saying, you were attacked and you defended yourself," RM Henry observed as she changed Kerr's plea.

Meanwhile, the prosecution informed the judge that the medical certificate was not on file. The case was therefore put off for mention on November 22.

Allegations are that on October 8, Lyons was outside the Wendy's fast-food establishment in Bogue when Kerr approached him with a piece of board and used it to strike him on his hand. Lyons sustained a wound to his thumb and sought medical attention, while Kerr was subsequently arrested and charged.