REAL NEWS: *Prosecution opts to pursue High Court trial of social activist on Electronic Crimes charge*
Social activist Mary John has been warned not to use her social media pages to commit any offence that contravenes the Electronic Crimes Act or her bail will be revoked.
John appeared in the St. John’s Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, January 4, before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh, who revoked her previous station bail and imposed a bail sum of $10,000, with a cash deposit of $2,500 and two sureties.
John has to report to the nearest police station every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and to surrender her travel documents.
She will return to court on March 24 for her committal proceedings.
John is accused of spreading false messages via her social media page with the use of an electronic system.
The matter could be tried either in the Magistrates Court or the High Court. However, the prosecution has opted to proceed with the charge indictably, which means it will be sent to the High Court for trial before a judge only or by judge and jury.
The penalty for this offence is $250,000 or three years in prison – or both, if tried in the lower court. However, the penalty increases to $500,000 or six years in prison, or both if tried in the High Court.
John stands accused of circulating false information about a young woman in relation to the murder of Jane Finch, who was found dead in her Piccadilly home last October.
John posted the young woman’s name and her photograph, and these made the rounds via social-media platforms.
The woman later reported the matter to the Police and investigations were launched, leading to John being charged.
In her own defense, John has said that she removed the post from her Facebook page immediately after learning she had identified the wrong person.
However, she says that, in the intervening time, her post was screen-shot and then circulated.
John’s supporters tell REAL News the Police “want to shut her down.”
They note that she has often used her social-media presence to highlight the inadequacies of the justice system and, in particular, the shortcomings of police investigations.
John, herself, has complained of official foot-dragging in instances where she has been threatened with violence.
Yet, she says, in this instance, there has been a rush to “nail her to the cross.”
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$250,000 is affordable for her and her brother. Maybe that’s why she made such a callous decision to circulate false information because of her lastname. This is a MURDER case that she falsely accused someone in. This is not her calling someone “bighead” or “idiot”. Way to go to tag, tarnish and traumatize an innocent victim in one fell swoop. Guess she will soon learn that being a Keyboard Gangsta is not a rewarding occupation after all.
#WeLiveAndWeLearn
#YourBrotherGotYourBackMary
LMAO!!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Who is her brother.
If someone post information which they though was correct at the time and on learning of the error, remove the post and apologize, have they committed a crime?
Do you think if it was the other way around Mary would have forgotten about it and accepted the apology ?
If there is one thing I have learnt is that Our God doesn’t slumber nor sleep .The evil that we do comes back to hunt us .It’s sad , but Karma is REAL
It is Real .
She had no business posting it in the first place. She’s not a police officer or an investigator.
Who the hells does she think she is!!!!!
Yep because you have removed it does not make disappear.. big 2022 and people still dnt know how social media work… the damge was done the moment she posted
Yes, because she should have either fact checked like a real journalist or kept her nose out of people business like a good citizen should.
Let’s not lose focus here..: the young woman who really killed Jane finch, the young girl who murdered this defenseless woman has only been charged with burglary. No one has been charged with the senseless death of Jane Finch
##justiceforjane
Put the full force of the law against the young girl that brutally murdered poor Jane
We wont lose focus and neither will the High Court. Her next court date is March 24th. See how focused they are?
The charges will not stick, I promise. This is a witch hunt and every Antiguan should be concerned. If a simple mistaken post can be result with a $250K fine or 6 years in jail, then every Antiguan is at risk. Y’all so don’t like her that you ignore that simple truth. It could be any one of you. You all ought to be embarrassed, and ashamed. What she did she apologized for and is not a big deal. Minor consequences (the same ones that apply to journalists, fine. But not all this.
“What she did she apologized for and is not a big deal.”
REALLY??? Not a big deal??? Let’s put the shoe on your foot and have someone TARNISH YOUR NAME and bring DISTRESS and SICKNESS to your family. Not only your name being associated with MURDER, but your PICTURE for all the world to see.
Wouldn’t you expect better of a [self-proclaimed] “activist” and “journalist”??
Obviously, she no real “activist”, and certainly NOT a “journalist”. She will likely have to pay. This is a good reminder to all the careless people out there. Careful what you post or re-post.
Can you get over yourself? It’s a case of mistaken identity. Obviously it is an unfortunate mistake. But the way you are reacting is pretextual (look it up). You don’t actually care that the young lady’s picture mistakenly circulated, ah jus cuz u nuh like she you a gwan so!!! You all are so self-righteous.
Furthermore, the ECA says:
(1) A person shall not INTENTIONALLY, without lawful excuse or justifi cation send by means of an
electronic system –
(a) information that is offensive or threatening;
(b) information which is false, causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction,
insult, injury, intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will, persistently by making use of such
electronic system or an electronic device; or
(c) electronic mail or an electronic message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience, or to deceive or mislead the recipient as to the origin of such message.
She did not INTENTIONALLY or MALICIOUSLY spread any false information. It was a mistake.
I hope yall aren’t this unforgiving when your turn comes.
The High Court will handle the matter. Let someone do it to you and your family and will see if you keep the same energy.
It could also be one of us who she falsely accuses of murder. There’s nothing “simple” about that.
Witchunt like Wilmoth Daniel STRIPPER POLE BUS?
Exactly! This reeks spite! In my opinion MJ has done more for crimes in Antigua than the entire police force! She’s exposed their incompetence n they’re BIG mad at her!
Gods got u MJ🙏 U will be vindicated.
No way an honest mistake should result in this.
Wicked set of ppl
Only a “Wicked set of ppl” would post what she did. Agreed on that one.
Offensive messages through online communication services
Art. 4 of the Electronic Crimes Act 2013 prohibits sending by means of an electronic system:
information that is offensive or threatening
information which is false, causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, enmity, hatred or ill-will
electronic mail or an electronic message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience, or to deceive or mislead the recipient as to the origin of such message.
The punishment is, upon summary conviction, imprisonment for up to three years and/or a fine of $200,000; or, upon conviction on indictment, up to seven years in prison or a fine up to $500,000.
The power and reach of social media.
Taking down the post and apologizing after the fact seems good but certainly would not erase the wrong.
It was screen shot and already in circulation after it was withdrawn. She had no control of how many times it was circulated on whatsapp…..
That is the point. Even if it was a split second she has no control for a second.
She had CONTROL over making the post in the first place. This is someone who is bosom buddy with Jacquie Quinn’s “Real News”. This is not falsely accusing someone of merely running a red light or speeding. This is MURDER! MURDER! MURDER! Perhaps you are not familiar with Mary John’s signature style/modus operandi. But she is infamous for this type of behaviour. If you see her in public, run…..If you can’t run, dig a hole and jump een. She is unconcerned with “reporting” the truth. She evidently wants to be known as the first person to expose other people. Again, mark her face and if you ever see her in public, change location! Can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Run like hells!!! DANGER.
She has constantly made accusations about many people, this one caught up with her and now she’s made accountable. Lesson here …Don’t talk shit about people online. For those of you on here saying it was nothing, its always nothing until it happens to you.
If it was one of them she did that shit to they would be singing a different tone. Bout time she rass be held accountable for shit she post. Me nah sorry for the. She to blasted fast karma is a b…….
she deserves more than six years,
Who the hell is this woman anyway? I never heard of her. She Antiguan?
She is the sister of local surgeon, Dr. Joseph John.
Cliff some of your money going bk to the court 😁
Smh, another distraction from the truth. Did the woman who did the break in have an accomplice ? Why wasn’t she charged for the murder?
NO DISTRACTION! Actions have consequences, whether good or bad. Hope if someone FALSELY accuses you of murder and plaster your face all over the Internet and WhatsApp that you would take it so lightly.
All of you here defending Miss John put yourself in the young lady shoes. He name and picture went viral thanks to Miss John always so quick to post people information without the supporting evidence. Do you people know how much damage that did to the young lady? And the sad thing is she is not the first to suffer from Miss John meddling. But because of her “activism” she should get away with slandering people name? Bout time she be held accountable for her nasty ways.
“ John was the complainant in a
similar matter in which she re-
ported to the police that a man
made certain remarks about her
on social media. The man was
fined $500 after he pleaded guilty
in that case. He had accused
John of making certain comments
about his family business, which
caused them to lose customers.“
Than 6 years in prison or 500K fine
She will be fine. She has her brother to lean on. Hope she learns an indelible lesson regardless of the outcome.
Crack NN has gone off air.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 yup e mussa bun she bad dat she can’t meddle and invade ppl privacy lmao 🤣😂😆🤪😅
In the words of Jackie Quinn “tek dat in she neh nen” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Farse wit she damn mout.
She gonna face the music this time. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Tee Hee. Tee Hee. Excuse me, time for a belly laugh or two or three. Justice is going to be done, big time.
Justice in Antigua just seems so one-sided. Mary John will be fine. She comes from ‘good family’ as we like to say in Antigua. The problem is: once again, the seeming one-sideness in law enforcement is once again so evident. If she was a singer for the govt, as many on here are, it would be “nothing to see here”, just move on.
So was justice one sided why she get the 140k from Cliff Williams? Was justice one sided for the many people who she defamed over the years? Was justice one sided to the young lady who was traumatized because of her gimme one aspirin bout time she face the consequences of her actions.
How is justice “one sided” in the case of Wilmoth Daniel STRIPPER POLE BUS?? Was that justice?
As usual your rants don’t bare out with the facts. You do know two other persons (Jafari Matthews and Jerri-Ann King) face similar charges? It seems they attacked (via a electronic system) the young lady who had claimed she was a victim (complainant) in the Micheal Browne issue. One would think if you were right then they would have gotten a free pass. Zackie, keep sitting (figuratively) at the back of that stripper bus
There are two prominent parliamentarians who electronically exposed to the public some rather serious allegations about the DPP and the Chief magistrate of Antigua and Barbuda. As far as I know nothing was said or done by law enforcement or anyone else. I hate to live in a two-tiered society and that seems to be case. As for your last remark, FIRE PAN DAT!!!
Ellie Fuller next…he needs six years too……….always running his mouth when he should be minding his own business. Seems all these rehab people turn into preachers after then comee back clean!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 fork-tongue, double-minded Eli. He desperately tries to ride on his dad’s coat tails 🤣 He is also obsessed with attention and will throw you under the bus to get it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
This should be a civil matter between her and the other individual..how did the government get involved? Social media is an international platform unlike a local radio station or newspaper….what if she made the post from new york or 20 miles offshore can the Antiguan government prosecute her?
You need to READ the Electronic Crimes Act.
Sounds like BS to protect thieving politicians and big wigs. Should be a civil matter.
@Mr C. Take a good READ of the Electronic Crimes Act of 2013, passed under Gisele Isaac-Arrindell, Speaker of the House.
Mary, Mary Mary, Mary! Tsk, tsk, tsk!
The potential punishment exceeds the crime. This is nonsense.
Guess it is to serve as a deterrent. So whatever you do, do NOT, do NOT slander or post false information electronically. http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2013-14.pdf
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