Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A Montegonian who is charged with beating a man for picking ackees from his tree was instructed to change his plea when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Martin Blackwood pleaded guilty with explanation to assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Tajmar Brown. However, after he explained himself, he was told to submit a not-guilty plea instead.

Blackwood told Resident Magistrate (RM) Vivienne Harris that on January 5, at 7 a.m., he went out into his yard and found Brown picking ackees from a tree on the property. The accused added that he told Brown not to pick the ackees, whereupon Brown began to curse and threatened him.

When RM Harris heard this, she noted that reasonable force can be used to remove trespassers when necessary.

trespasser

"The man trespassed on your property. The law doesn't allow protection for a trespasser, so the proper plea is not guilty," she advised Blackwood.

Meanwhile, the prosecution told the court that the complainant's medical certificate was still outstanding. Blackwood was ordered to submit his fingerprints to the police. The matter will return before the court on February 28.