One of the young men, Essardo Jefferson

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

One of the young men, Essardo Jefferson

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Two young men pleaded guilty to assaulting a sports trainer and teacher at the A. O. Shirley Recreational Grounds over a previous incident. The defendants are Kevin Tyson and Essardo Jefferson.

During their arraignment last week Friday, Jefferson pleaded guilty to common assault committed on Rolston Henry known as 'Grandfather', guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis [1.2 grams] and not guilty to threatening language.

Tyson pleaded guilty to common assault committed on Henry, not guilty to being armed with an offensive weapon [a bottle], not guilty to assault on a police officer, not guilty to indecent language, not guilty to another count of assault on a police officer, and not guilty to two counts of obstructing Police.

Senior Crown Counsel Christlyn Benjamin said the complainant is Rolston Henry, a physical education teacher at the Enis Adams School and a Coach at track and tech club. She said on May 22 around 5.00 pm at the A.O Shirley Grounds Henry was conducting track training with athletes, and at some point he went to the area of the bleachers to wash his hands.

Benjamin said Henry then saw Jefferson and Tyson walking towards him in an aggressive manner, and he ran but fell on the ground. At this point the young men were standing over him. Benjamin
said an incident occurred the day before between Henry and Jefferson where Jefferson made threats towards him and the police got involved.

The Prosecutor told the court that Tyson then held him on the ground, and Tyson grabbed onto Henry´s shirt and said, "why you hit my brother." Tyson braced Henry to the ground for a while as bystanders attempted to intervene, and then Jefferson joined in.

She said eventually the bystanders managed to got the men off of Henry, and then they ran off.

The court heard that the men were later found at U.P´s but ran as they saw the police. They were eventually caught and during the arrest Tyson allegedly committed common assault on the officers.