Man fined for possession of scissors

Mickel Clunes’ reason for having a pair of scissors in his possession is that it was for his use of canabis. However, that did not prevent police from arresting and charging him for possession of an offensive weapon. Nor did it prevent the court on Friday from imposing a fine of $800.00 on Clunes or two months in prison if he fails to pay by December 31, 2012.

Members of the Task Force had responded to a stone throwing incident in Pottersville at about 10:10pm on November 5, 2012 and on arrival searched some men who were in the area and  Clunes was found with a pair of scissors. He told the court “I told the police that I am a user of cannabis and my scissors was for that use and not to injure anyone.”

In another matter, 18 year old Elizee Edmond of Layou was slapped with a five hundred dollars fine to be paid by December 31, 2012 failing which, he will spend one month behind bars.

He was arrested for a marijuana stick.

A repentant Edmond told the court “I’m sorry”.

He was advised by the magistrate to ‘stay away from marijuana….stay on the straight and narrow road.”

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22 Comments

  1. Rational
    November 14, 2012

    Don’t be ignorant, read a book or do your research. If you are posting on this site you better damn well be educated. Ignorance is never flattering. Cannabis, is safe and while illegal is not a drug but a natural substance. Safer than Tylenol or Advil. The reason it’s illegal is for political purposes that stem from the hemp and paper industry. To waste time and money penalizing someone for smoking a spliff, joint, or marijuana cigarette is stupid. Especially when your citizens are comfortable enough to murder at will.

  2. Tiger
    November 12, 2012

    So if someone has an object in a place where it is not normally used, the default position of the court is that is will be used as a weapon?

    What if the man had a rock in his hand? Would he have been charged for having a weapon in his possession? Isn’t it incumbent on the prosecution to prove that the object was in face going ot be used as a weapon? Where is the proof?

    Any first year law student would have been able to beat that rap. Furthermore why doesn’t the magistrate demand proof of a conspiracy before they hand down those types of sentences?

    It appears to me that the court is taking the easy way out because the man is not represented by counsel. Now you guys see why lawyer are not just useless being. The court is giving the guy a criminal record because he does have a lawyer.

  3. Sandy
    November 12, 2012

    Dominican’s no its illegal stop smoke cannabis, there police outside looking for u all….
    wen u pay $5.00 for a 5bag u will pay $800.00 in the long run.

  4. Anonymous
    November 12, 2012

    that $500.00 staying in my pocket and i going up to rest for a month in stock farm no joke lol

  5. DRUGS
    November 12, 2012

    cannabis is illegal stop smoke drugs, the more you smoke the cops will always arrest you… i hate a drug smoker or a drug dealer.

  6. OH MY
    November 12, 2012

    i concur,,,,,, she is not charging them to be mean, she is trying to show the people that it could be serious if they are caught, she is sending a message to them, i am happy she is charging them so high,,,, she should charge for cutlass prison for a long time too.

  7. watch dog
    November 11, 2012

    I respect the court but the individuals who run it has no vision.

  8. iya
    November 11, 2012

    The courts of Dominica should be shameful for being so unjust I won’t visit neither will be world travelers.

    • budman
      November 12, 2012

      boo hoo

  9. wow
    November 11, 2012

    It surprises me that someone is searched in an area, with what? PLAUSIBLE CAUSE? PRESUMPTION? ASSUMPTION? how does does a court slap an $800.00 fine for carrying a scissors, which could be used for anything, and arrive at the conclusion, which will weigh heavier on the side of “weapon”… was the person an onlooker? a passer by? or was he a actor in the heat of whatever was going on? and how was the police able to conclude that? questions questions questions. $800 for a lousy scissor that is less than $20 is just unreasonable!

    • MUDD
      November 12, 2012

      You are so dumb. Is the boy carrying the scissor a tailor? I he had stab someone what would you have said?

      • Piper
        November 13, 2012

        MUDD,
        You are an idiot. Since a pair of scissors has multiple uses, it is for the prosecution to prove that the intent of the person carrying the scissors was criminal. The mere fact that the person was not in the process of cutting cloth does not make the tool a weapon. In such cases, to prove a conspiracy, intent is critical. How was the prosecution able to prove intent?

        If the law is such that unless one has the immediate ability to use the tool as it was intended, the law is an a**.

      • po
        November 13, 2012

        bro..apparently you have no idea how the law works

  10. A Voice
    November 11, 2012

    $500 for one spliff? Boy marijuana fence that more low.

  11. da real hmm
    November 11, 2012

    task force a scissors man.. dno allu self hav heart put tha up. that a joke to me

  12. voire dire
    November 11, 2012

    Look,i dont like marijuana and i am strongly against the cultivation,use and sale of it..but i want to say to the task force officers,a man with one spliff is not dominica’s problem.DA problem is the politicians and high folks dat doing all the crimes like bin bobol,fertilizer,bobol,villas,illegal contesting of elections,illegal electing of president,fire bombing of elderly citizens of d/ca,42 counts of passport forgery and illegal sales of dominica passports…thats what Hunter and the task force must look into!!!!not one spliff

  13. November 11, 2012

    A repentant Edmond told the court “I’m sorry”<<<<<News article.

    Edmond you would have caused Jesus to be extremely pleased with you, and He would immediately enter your conscience by the Power of Holy Spirit, who would take control of your mind, and to teach you to say no to the temptations and demands of our enemy and His enemy as well, whose only intention is steal, kill, and destroy, you physically–as he keeps your mind in captive of death.

    Having accomplished that wicked goal in you, there is no way, you will be able to make the choice to turn back to the God of Love, who only wanted you to live the Life which is of Love in Spirit and in Truth.

    So just as you are able now, to say to the Judge, "I am sorry" why don't you just think about Jesus, who has always loved you, and speak those same words of your heart to Him?

    I promise you that you will come to know the "freedom" that will cause you to proudly walk away from every temptation and demand of the flesh–the lies that are the "poisonous foods" of the enemy, the devil, he who tells you, "you will not die" but go ahead and eat, you will feel much better. That was what he said to Eve–our first mother, and she believed him.

    Yeah! That is the reason young people, like you, believe that the marijuana joints, the acoholic drinks, or the stronger form of drugs, are good for you–in your mind the devil has told you, you will feel better; but that is a wicked lie from him!

    His aim is to keep your mind away from the focus of Life, which is the ways of God in Love and by your faith. The devil's ways are the attitude and conducts of death, for Jesus says that he was a murderer from the beginning.

    When you have sincerely chosen Life in Jesus Christ, He is sure to direct your paths by your faith and trust in His authority. Hence by the words of Holy Spirit, you will be able to rebuke those lies of that destroyer, out of your mind, that you might live with freedom–walking with preace and joy; not in the misery of Satan's lies and his ways of death!

    In Life with Jesus Christ, you would not be faced with that penalty or jail term, today. I pray that Jesus will still deliver you from that pain of yours, right now–if you continue with that same attitude of remorse. Amen!

    • JohnnyBlaze
      November 12, 2012

      Why don’t you go be a priest with all that blah blahing

    • budman
      November 12, 2012

      please take a liberal dose of hush

    • Tiger
      November 12, 2012

      Blah Blah Blah……so boring!!!

      • November 12, 2012

        @Johnnyblaze, Budman, and Tiger

        I challenge you to look carefully into your minds, and come back here–tell me if your did not see the blah blah and boredom in your own carnal state of mind.

        And do not forget that it is your kind of mentality that will land you in the same situation as those two young men in the article.

        I hope you will remember my words, when it happens to you, because it will–unless you change your attitude.

  14. Alcohol
    November 10, 2012

    Marijuana: How your eyes so red nuh?
    Alcohol: But yours is red too.
    Marijuana: But how comes is always me dey charging for taking a lil puff.
    Alcohol: I am 16 and I drink my carib beer and rum right infront of the police station and all dey tell me is a good hi. So many people get cancer for smoking cigarette and no arrest. But you only take one stick M and you in trouble. It can have health benefits once you don’t overdo.
    Marijuana: I will have to make a plea.
    Alcohol: U know marijuana and boisbande rum is good for the pm ball head.
    Alcohol: I know for the marijuana but I will have to ask the pm for the literature on the boisbande ting.

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