A MAN who kicked his brother in the face during a fight claims he was acting in self-defence – and told the police he did so ‘to try and stop him going for me’.
On the second day of a Royal Court trial yesterday, the jury heard that Jake Marley Robertson (25) said that his brother had been ‘drunk and erratic’ during the incident at Bonne Nuit on 31 July last year.
Both men were charged with grave and criminal assault against each other. Mr Robertson’s brother pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced in June.
But Mr Robertson denied it, claiming he was acting in self-defence.
After CCTV footage of the altercation was played yesterday morning, Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, read from a police interview with the defendant.
The jury heard how Mr Robertson said his brother had been ‘drunk and erratic’ and that things ‘got out of hand’ after a fight broke out between the two.
He also said that he kicked his brother in the face ‘to try and stop him going for me’, claiming his sibling had continued being aggressive after the initial blows.
Advocate Mark Boothman, defending, asked PC Celio Abreu – the arresting officer – if Mr Robertson was calm and co-operative upon his arrival.
‘That’s correct, yes,’ responded PC Abreu.
Advocate Boothman also pointed out that his client had chosen to answer questions about the incident, rather than decline to comment.
On the first day of the trial, the jury heard how Mr Robertson’s brother had suggested they go paddle-boarding at Bonne Nuit on the afternoon in question but that when he arrived the defendant’s brother was drunk and they eventually got into an argument.
Mr Robertson is accused of kicking his brother in the head ‘like a football’, knocking him unconscious, and later lifting him off the ground and dropping him so that his head hit concrete, rendering him unconscious again.
Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae was presiding.
The trial continues.
