Magistrate Court hears Aglae and Amesbury case |20 October 2020

The Magistrate Court yesterday heard several witnesses in the case brought against former politician Martin Aglae by the Republic and the Amesbury family.

The case was heard by Magistrate Brigitte Confait with William Herminie representing the defendant and state counsel Hemanth Kumar representing the complainants.

The now owner of the Marpol security firm has been charged on two counts, threatening to commit violence against his neighbours, the Amesburys, and antisocial behaviour related to the playing of loud music.

One of the complainants in the case, Manuella Amesbury, yesterday morning relayed her version of the incidents which started on a Friday evening, September 11, at Jerusalem, Au Cap.

Mrs Amesbury, who happens to be the chief electoral officer at the Electoral Commission, explained that the loud music started on September 11 through to September 13, during which she said she reported the noises on several occasions.

According to Mrs Amesbury, the situation escalated on September 13 when Mr Aglae allegedly shouted some expletives in the direction of her house and played loud music for a while.

Mrs Amesbury explained to Magistrate Confait that she felt that she had been threatened by Martin Aglae.

She acknowledged the delicate situation surrounding the case given the nature of her job, especially since Mr Aglae’s residence was seemingly a gathering place for a political party that is participating in the general elections.

Her version of events were counter-examined by Mr Herminie who was not shy in questioning Mrs Amesbury’s motives behind the complaints and the claims she had made in relations to loud music and who was actually playing them.

In an interview during the midday break, Mr Aglae contended that he was not at home on the evening of September 11 and noted that he would be using this as part of his defence.

“From the evidence of the main complainant, the CEO of the EC, it is clear that there is no case. She contradicted herself by saying that I was playing music that Friday but she cannot state whether I was at home that night. I would like to confirm that I was not at my residence that night, I was there at 7pm but then went to dinner at the Auberge with my family,” said Mr Aglae, adding that he was accompanied by a police officer from the Anse Aux Pins station at the dinner.

According to Mr Aglae, a security guard remained behind at the house.

Mr Aglae has been renting out the house next to the Amesbury family for around three years.

His legal team is asking that the case be dismissed, that the interim order placed on Mr Aglae is disposed of and any other remedies that the court deems fit in the favour of the respondent.

Meanwhile, Mrs Amesbury declined to comment on the case.

Yesterday’s hearing carried on in the afternoon with the testimony of Ralph Amesbury, husband of Mrs Amesbury, and will continue on November 30 with additional witnesses.

Elsie Pointe