SOCA STAR Machel Montano was this morning found guilty of five criminal offences. Montano, the reigning Power Soca Monarch and Road March king, along with Kernel Roberts, the son of legendary Calypso icon Lord Kitchener, Joel “Zan” Feveck, a member of Montano HD Family, and Rodney “Benjai” LeBlanc, best known for his patriotic song, Trini, were all charged with a series of criminal offences arising out a fracas outside the Zen nightclub, in Port of Spain in April 2007. After postponing her decision on two consecutive occasions, Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor, presiding in the Port of Spain Magistrates Court, delivered her decision to a packed courtroom this morning. Montano was found guilty on four charges of assault against Gerard Borwin, Brandis Browne, Janelle Lee Chee and Russell Pollonais. Montano was also found guilty of using obscene language during the same incident. Roberts, the composer of several of Montano’s hits, was also found guilty on two charges of assault while Benjai, who was charged with two offences of assault and Feveck, who was charged with a single offence of assault, were found not guilty. Magistrate Baboolal-Gafoor adjourned the matter to January 12, 2013, after hearing pleas of leniency from the attorneys representing the two men.
She ordered that they remain free on bail pending her decision.
