UPDATE: Sentencing delayed for man who attacked cop

Paula Gordon, Staff Reporter

The sentencing of a man accused of attacking a policeman was today postponed in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Andre Pratt is accused of attacking and injuring a police corporal while he was in custody at the Half-Way Tree police lock-up.

It’s alleged that on April 4, 2010, Corporal Otis Jarrett, who was on duty at the lock up, when Pratt hit him in the face with a padlock.

The injury caused impairment to the corporal's ears.

Today bail was extended for Pratt, who has pleaded guilty to wounding.

Following an impassioned plea by his attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson, Resident Magistrate Georgiana Fraser ruled that the case be transferred to the Drug Rehabilitation Court.

Neita-Robertson told the court that her client has a drug problem and that counselling would work best in his situation instead of a prison sentence.

The matter is set for mention in the Drug Rehabilitation Court on September 12.

Pratt became known after he was charged for the December 2009 wounding of a policeman at Jamaica House.

At that time, it was reported that Pratt walked up to the gates of Jamaica House and demanded to speak with the prime minister, but while he was being attended to, he pulled a knife and slashed the throat of the policeman at the gate.

He was chased by the policeman and arrested.

However, in 2010 he was deemed to be of unsound mind and that case did not go to trial.

The policeman has since recovered.

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