A criminal case with significant public attention is unfolding in Kingstown, where a serving 31-year-old police officer has been formally charged with unlawful wounding following an alleged attack on a 60-year-old local farmer. According to official police allegations, the defendant, Patrick Franklyn, who resides in Questelles, is accused of assaulting the Vermont-based farmer on April 18. Prosecutors claim that Franklyn struck the older man on the right side of his face, a blow that forced the farmer to fall to the ground and sustain additional head trauma from the impact.
Franklyn made his first court appearance before Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie at the Kingstown Magistrate Court this Thursday, where he entered a formal not guilty plea to the single wounding charge brought against him. Following the arraignment, the court granted Franklyn pretrial release on bail set at 2,900 Eastern Caribbean dollars, on the condition that he secure a third-party surety to guarantee his compliance with bail conditions.
As part of the release terms, Magistrate McKenzie imposed several key restrictions on Franklyn ahead of his trial. He is strictly prohibited from making any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim, who is recognized as the virtual complainant in the case. He has also been ordered to sign in at the Questelles Police Station every Friday to confirm he remains in the area. To prevent any attempt to flee the jurisdiction ahead of proceedings, the court further issued an order for stop notices to be posted at all official ports of entry and exit across the country.
The case is scheduled to move to trial on September 28, with all parties set to present evidence and arguments before the court at that time.