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KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – A 69-year-old businessman, who was caught on a video allegedly assaulting a nurse last week that later triggered an island-wide protest by health care workers, was on Wednesday denied bail when he appeared before a Supreme Court judge.
Businessman Robert Bell, who is scheduled to return to court on July 9, appeared before Justice Lorna Shelly Williams on charges of assault occasioning bodily harm; assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm; assault at common law; possessing a firearm with intent to commit a first schedule offence; and possession of a firearm with intent to cause injuries.
His attorney, Christopher Townsend, confirmed that a bail application had been made, but that the judge refused the bail on the grounds that since the video has gone viral, for his safety, it is best that he remains where he is.
“She did, however, indicate that as soon as we have received all the documents, that we are at liberty to make another bail application,n which we will do. We will also address the question of his safety on that occasion,” Townsend said.
The police said that on the evening of May 13, the nurse was on her way to work when her vehicle was impeded by a vehicle that was being driven by Bell. A dispute ensued between the two individuals, during which the woman was physically assaulted.
A video of the incident that went viral on social media shows a man physically assaulting the nurse and even stomping on her head.
In his application for bail, Townsend argued that his client is a good candidate for release from custody, citing his standing in his community and that he was about to report to the police when he was arrested at his St Andrew home.
The police say they also seized his licensed firearm.
