Being drunk ‘is no excuse’

 By JACKLYN SIRIAS
Drunkenness should never be an excuse when it comes to alcohol-related cases, Magistrate Cosmas Bidar says.
He made the comment after arraigning Teka Teka, from Baruni village in the National Capital District, who allegedly assaulted another person using a stone that caused a fracture on his skull, when Teka was intoxicated.
Bidar said because of that, the public prosecutor declined to elect the case to proceed by way of summary.
For a case to proceed by way of summary meant that it would be dealt with by the district court and finish it there. It would not go up to the National Court. But Bidar said since the case was alcohol related, the public prosecutor exercised his power under the Public Prosecutors Act and declined to have the case proceed summarily.
He proceeded with the case through the committal process and assessed evidence of victims, witnesses and the defendant.
The court heard that on Oct 15 last year, Teka was returning from a birthday party with his family and the victim stood in their way.
Teka was alleged to have been intoxicated at the time. He got out of his vehicle and picked up a stone beside the road. He allegedly threw it at the victim and injured him, causing fracture on the victim’s skull.
He was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm.
The court adjourned the case to July 21 to allow them time for submissions.