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31st
July 2010
Girl Friend’s
testimony Saves Drug addict in court
 “Does
everyone deserve a second chance.”?
Have you ever given someone a second
chance and has it worked out for the better
or for worse? Do you believe in second chances
and has a second chance worked out for you?
These were some of the questions that crossed
my mind as I listened to the testimony of Jackie
Paul, the girl friend of Max Serve.
Earlier this week, I wrote about Max the crafty
vendor in Thursday’s court news. The defendant
had been charged with the offence of house breaking,
He also served as his own counsel during the
trial. He testified that on 2nd June 2009, after
a routine collection of items used for his art
by the river, he was approached by a group of
officers who led him to a house which he was
said to have broken into. Whilst there, he was
shot by the police twice in the leg for no reason.
However, the prosecution presented a total different
argument, stating that Serve never visited the
river but instead had broken into the house
to steal, where he was caught by police who
ordered him to freeze, but instead he tried
to attack them and was shot twice in the process.
This led to a guilty verdict of house burglary,
where the defendant was awaiting sentencing
at a later date.
However, on Wednesday the tables were turned
as I watched the tears of a young mother, as
she told the court a bitter story, a story about
the man who fathered her four children, his
drug addiction and the pain felt over the years
by the spouse of a drug abuser.
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I truly felt
her emotions and her love for him as she described
Serve as a good father, ”he takes the
children places but he has one problem, he
takes cocaine and he makes it take control
of his life. He was a good boy, he use to
hold himself I just want him to change,”
Jackie told the court. She also stated that
he uses all his money to buy drugs and he
even sells all what they have. The defendant
was granted an opportunity to say something
to his girl friend, he said “ If given
a chance to change and get back home will
you accept me?” Jackie’s reply
was, “Yes but you have to change.
Justice Kenneth Benjamin informed Serve that
he would offer him an opportunity since he
has no convictions since1998, when he was
arrested for the possession of “cannabis,”
if he his willing to clean himself up; he
has to decide in his mind to clean up. But
under one condition: he has to go to the rehabilitation
centre and complete the entire program, then
he will be allowed to go home; if he does
not, he will be sent back to prison.
“ I hope you are able to manage that
cause this is not a free pass, this is no
difference from where you are now, instead
of four years imprisonment you will be placed
on probation for two years, arrangements will
be made at a rehabilitation center, and if
they assess that you are a good candidate,
you will be sent home, but if not you will
be sent to prison. Benjamin stated. Jackie
seemed overwhelmed and relieved with the Judgement.
Discuss
Story
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