Machel, Roberts sentencing set for Monday

Machel Montano - sentencing set for Monday

A Port of Spain magistrate is expected to pass sentence Monday on soca icon Machel Montano and hit songwriter/producer Kernal Roberts.

Montano has been found guilty on four counts of assault and using obscene language. Roberts was found guilty on two counts of assault. Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor made the ruling against the men on December 10 last byear, five years after the trial began. 

She freed Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc and Joel “Zan” Feveck who were charged along with Montano and Roberts in relation to a fracas outside the Zen nightclub in Port-of-Spain on April 26, 2007.

The trial started in 2008. The magistrate granted attorneys for Montano and Roberts an adjournment on January 17, in order to get a probation officer's report on the suitability of the men to perform community service. 

Prosecutor George Bubsy told the court at the last hearing that based on a review of the Community Service Order and discussions with the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, the option of community service is not available to both men.