US tourists plead guilty to malicious damage and assault charges in Antigua and Barbuda airport brawl

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On Tuesday, May 2, two individuals involved in a fight with police at V.C. Bird International Airport last Wednesday, April 26, made their second appearance before the St. John’s Magistrates Court after spending the holiday weekend in custody at His Majesty’s Prison.

The individuals, Larry Parks, 45, and Yetta Purcell, 42, both from Pennsylvania, USA, had previously appeared before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh on Friday, charged with malicious damage.

The court ordered them to pay compensation to the victims of the damage they caused, as well as for injuries sustained by a female police officer.

The duo sought to obtain legal representation, and the magistrate remanded them until Tuesday to allow them time to do so.

They later hired attorney-at-law Lawrence Daniel, who arrived late to court after his clients had already pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Daniel attempted to have the duo change their plea, but they ultimately decided to maintain their plea of guilty after being advised that they would not be able to leave the country if they changed it.

The police arrested and charged Parks and Purcell for maliciously damaging a vehicle, A62760, which belonged to Charlene Carr.

The two had use of the vehicle during their stay in Antigua and Barbuda and allegedly caused damage to it using a wooden stool and a stone after an altercation with Carr.

The landlord reported the matter to the police, and the damage was later estimated at over $4,000, the same amount they had to pay her in compensation.

The duo faced another charge of malicious damage for damaging motor vehicle C18829, which belonged to the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

They were ordered to pay compensation in the sum of $2,332 to the government.

Parks and Purcell faced additional charges for assaulting police officers, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct by making noise, all of which occurred at the airport on April 26.

The court ordered them to compensate a female police officer who sustained injuries in the confrontation.

The other officers did not require medical attention, and the court reprimanded and discharged Parks and Purcell for the offenses against them.

Video footage showed the police struggling to control the visiting Americans, with one of them having to be restrained on the ground.

A stop order had reportedly been placed on them at the airport by the police.-

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7 COMMENTS

  1. Something Resl Fuzzy!
    Quite a Tradegy!..
    In a World.of Malice & Envy
    Here we GO…
    Institutionalize Mentality!…
    Don’t Forget..
    Don’t Bite De HAND Dat FEEDs
    Font Accelerate Bribery & Greed
    Word of Caution.
    Tissue to Isssue

  2. Our legal system is very poor. We have too much of our people in that place ,still shitting in buckets. It is the most unsanitary place on earth that 1735. On Sunday I heard lawyer Monique Gorden pleading with the government to get somewhere proper to house a 13 year old on remand. She said there are two other minors in Antigua’s Hell. We are housing three times the amount than it was built to house. When on remand many of our innocent young men have pleaded guilty to get it over and out of there.
    Calling on the legal Minister and the government to use that property west of YASCO to house the youngsters. I am talking of the NTTC building that you renovated After You house the Barbudan there . Can you imagine that we are housing a convicted white rapist in air conditioned facility, at the old naval base , while our children are held at 1735 even before a trial. Not until one of you corrupt politicians land yourself in that place or one of your children , you will not see the need.

    • The turquoise color building . The one that was refitted and renamed to be the new hospital extension?

      Lol. They will never.

      I’m suggesting the air base. The same one with the convicted rapist. It have space. Even put the kids at camp blizzard or at crabs. Give the youth a chance to mingle with positive Influence. A chance to make a change.

      I agree with you it’s a shame we have to put kids at 1735.
      What’s Gaston thoughts on this. We know the AG ain’t got mo brain cells. So no need asking his take.

    • That is how black leaders in Antigua and Barbuda treat their own people. For example, Imagine I am not convicted and I am spending 3 years on remanded in the same filthy facility as convicted prisoners. For having too much of God marijuana trees planted in my yard.

  3. So a person before the court plead guilty and because the lawyer in question knows how corrupt the system can be he wanted them to plead not guilty. So it is not about who is wrong or right is who can screw the system to suit their purpose.

  4. You know where the air is clean and the living is good? FREEDOM!
    Go visit prisons in other parts of the world and you’d see how well residents at 1735 have it.

  5. Coming down – no where in the world they have 13 yesrs old in the same prison as harden criminal. Secondary to prevent abuse/ sexual and other wise they are placed in maximum holding/that is where they hold murderers. We are talking of kids on remand, not proven guilty.

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