By: Gavincia Clarke
Nevispages.com
(CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS)- “God do answers prayer” said the family of Ozandy Collins after he walked out of the Charlestown High Court today Tuesday, April 15, 2014 a free man. Shouts and praises echoed for Collins by friends and family members who were delighted to see the youngster walk free.
His mother fell to her knees after seeing her son walking through the door of the Charlestown High Court and shouted, ‘Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus’. Collins has been incarcerated since December 2013.
It was a rough trial for the 19 year old since two of his attorneys, Lawyer Ricaldo Caines and Lawyer Denzil Hinds abandoned him during trials. Nonetheless, fate was on his side today when he was able to walk down the steps of the Charlestown High Court without handcuffs or being escorted by police officers.
On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 Collins stood in the prisoner’s dock and changed his ‘not guilty’ to ‘guilty’ for two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge. His plea was changed after his old attorney Ricaldo Caines withdrew himself from the matter. He was then represented by Attorney Denzil Hinds who was also a ‘no show’ in court today.
Collins was accused of having sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 16. At the time of the incident the underage teen was three (3) months shy of fourteen (14) years. The incident is said to have occurred on April 3 and April 5, 2013 at Ramsbury Site. At the time Collins was eighteen (18) years old.
After listening to the case in closed court, Her Lordship, Justice Lorraine Williams placed the youngster on a 12 months suspended sentence. Collins who is a national of Guyana but who resides in Nevis is to keep the peace for 12 months. If he fails to do so he would be brought back before the court where he would be sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. He was also ordered to do 4 hours of community service, 5 days a week.
Nevispages understands that the Judge took Collins’ age into consideration and the fact that he has never before been in trouble with the law. This publication has also learnt that the court was of the opinion that some form of a ‘relationship’ existed between both parties.
