After being denied bail on six charges, including the rape of a female Special Reserve Police constable, PH taxi driver Afteba Huggins walked out the Siparia Magistrates’ Court belting out expletives and blaming the media for his arrest.
“Move allyuh mother (expletive) and go with them cameras. Is because of allyuh I in this. Since Monday allyuh have my (expletive) picture all over the place,” Huggins shouted as he was placed in a police vehicle.
As the vehicle drove out the court yard, he shouted out, “I love you” to his pregnant wife, who was left to take care of their five children. Just before he left the court, she brought a yellow towel, which she threw over his head to shield his face from the photographers.
Earlier on, Huggins, 36, appeared before Senior Magistrate Armina Deonarinesingh in the Siparia First Court charged with raping the woman constable and shooting at her with intent to murder her, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He was also charged with violently robbing the constable of her gold ring valued at $4,000, a gold chain and pendant valued at $3,500, a wedding band ($2,500) and her police jacket ($250). The offences were all alleged to have taken place at Berridge Trace, South Oropouche.
The charges were indictable so Huggins was not called on to plead. A preliminary inquiry will have to be done to determine whether a prima facie case can be made out against him to stand trial in the High Court.
Huggins was charged by Cpl Gokool of the Oropouche Police Station on Thursday.
In negotiating bail yesterday, his attorney Ramnarine Soorjansingh, said Huggins, a caretaker at Arawak Ltd, Mausica, lived in South Oropouche with his wife and children, ages 14 to four, and was the sole breadwinner. He said Huggins’ wife, who was present in court, was expecting their sixth child soon.
Citing Section 6 (2) (a) of the Bail Act, prosecutor Sgt Anthony Baptiste made two objections. Firstly, he said Huggins committed the alleged offence while on bail and secondly it was for another rape charge. Huggins also has pending matters for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, resisting arrest and obscene language.
Deonarinesingh denied Huggins bail, but advised him of his right to apply to a judge in chambers. Soorjansingh attempted to have the media barred from reporting on the matters, arguing his client would be tried in the public before the case is over. He referred to information being published in the media prior to his arrest. He asserted that his client was innocent until proven guilty.
Deonarinesingh did not make any order against reporting on the case, but reminded the media if the matters go to a preliminary inquiry, the details are not allowed to be published or broadcast as the content can reach potential juries and prejudice the case. The matter was adjourned to December 30.