Thursday, July 24 2008

A SAN FERNANDO magistrate yesterday set July 30 as the date to begin hearing evidence against two south hotel managers who are charged with assaulting a Colombian employee.

Hawaii Hotel managers, Lisa Nikisha Williams, 27, and Andy Lawrence, 23, appeared before Magistrate Alicia Chankar, in the Fourth Court, charged with assaulting Cindy Estella Marquez, 27, inflicting actual bodily harm.

The charges alleged that on July 13, the incident occurred at the hotel on Eleanor Street, Marabella where the managers had an altercation with Marquez.

Yesterday when the matter was called, Williams informed magistrate Chankar that their attorney was attending to another court matter in Port-of-Spain.

Williams, who was dressed in green shirt and blue skirt asked for additional time to continue the matter. But the magistrate responded that the trial will start on July 30, with or without the attorney.

Through an interpreter Y De Figaro, Marquez was able to understand yesterday’s hearing since she cannot speak English.

Both accused had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Marquez when they first appeared before deputy chief magistrate, Mark Wellington, on July 16. Each was placed on $20,000 bail.

PC Kurt Teesdale of the Marabella Police Station laid the charges.