Maverick De Abreu, the father of two who was charged back in 2017 with wounding Trinidad and Tobago Soca artiste Rodney Le Blanc, popularly known as “Benjai”, has been freed following a ruling by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.
Confirming this on Monday was one of Benjai’s lawyer, Eusi Anderson.
Anderson noted that the charge against De Abreu was dismissed by the Magistrate due to insufficient evidence. De Abreu had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on April 16, 2017, at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Le Blanc.
Based on reports, De Abreu was accused of hitting Le Blanc to the face with a glass bottle, causing him to suffer severe injuries during an argument moments after the artiste wrapped up a concert at the popular nightspot.
According to reports, a heated argument reportedly ensued between the Soca artiste, who was allegedly heavily intoxicated, and a taxi driver.
Reports are the driver came out of his car and Le Blanc advanced towards him. However, after seeing the commotion outside, De Abreu allegedly rushed out and dealt the singer one blow to his face with a bottle. It was reported that earlier in the night, Le Blanc had allegedly misbehaved with De Abreu’s girlfriend.
The T&T artiste was rushed to a private city hospital where he received over a dozen stitches to his face.
De Abreu, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Mark Waldron, had been out on $50,000 bail pending trial. Also in 2017, De Abreu was charged with discharging a loaded firearm at this pregnant girlfriend and her sister. The charges against him were, however, dismissed after the women refused to offer evidence.
Two years later, in 2019, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for him in connection with the assault of gay rights activist Joel Simpson.
