Prince in ‘hammer attack’ claims he is victim

A man from West End, who is before the court for assault and using a hammer as a weapon, has claimed that he is the true victim in a longstanding dispute he has been having with the complainant in the case, Adam Lala.

Forty-two year-old Nigel Prince is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, being armed with an offensive weapon, and using threatening language towards Lala.

Prince however believes that Lala is the one that should be charged.

“Your Honour, Adam Lala came to run me down with his car,” he told Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards when he appeared in court this month.

While she granted the accused man $40,000 bail, Senior Magistrate Richards told him to bring his claims to the authorities.

“If Mr Lala is interfering with you, you have to report it to the police,” the senior magistrate advised.

Reports are that, on October 24 last year, Lala was sitting in his parked vehicle in the Fish Bay area of Tortola when the Prince allegedly opened the door and made a threat.

“I am going to kill your wife; your child is not safe,” Prince allegedly said.

The court heard that he also raised a hammer to hit Lala, who managed to grab hold of the weapon.

While he ordered Lala to release the hammer, Prince allegedly punched the man in the face.

Lala’s co-workers intervened and quashed the fight.

The court heard that Lala sustained a laceration to the upper lip.

The matter was reported to the police. They accosted Prince, who allegedly told them that he punched Lala in self defence.

Prince is to return to court on September 15.