A trial date of June 26 was set in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday in an incident involving a man who used a wooden implement to slap the complainant in the face, causing swelling and bruises.

Charged with assault occasioning bodily harm is 18-year-old Paul McKenzie, who had his bail extended.

The allegation is that on the day of the incident, McKenzie and the complainant were involved in a dispute over a BlackBerry cell phone. It is further alleged that during the incident, McKenzie took a wooden implement and slapped the complainant on the left side of the face. It was also revealed that during the dispute, the complainant allegedly stabbed McKenzie in the back.

An additional allegation is that when the police came to apprehend McKenzie, he was whisked away in a burgundy vehicle.

In court, McKenzie's father and Senior Resident Magistrate (RM) Judith Pusey went back and forth regarding the incident and the administering of justice. The RM told the accused man's father that he should not say anything regarding justice as his son had been whisked away when the police came for him.

The Senior RM believed that as a result of that, McKenzie should have been remanded but instead told the accused that she would not remand him because of his father's indiscretion. McKenzie's bail was subsequently extended for him to return to trial in late June.