More than six witnesses to testify when case involving female cop and MP Michael is heard in July

Just over a half-dozen witnesses are expected to testify against St. Peter MP
Asot Michael when his battery case comes up on July 17.

Michael, who is charged with assaulting a female police officer, pleaded not
guilty to the charge of battery when he appeared before Magistrate Ngaio
Emanuel in the All Saints Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 21.

The charges against the parliamentarian stem from an alleged incident
involving a female officer who was on duty at a fete on August 5, 2023.
Allegations are that Michael, who the officer said appeared to have been
intoxicated, grabbed her without her consent.

When she reportedly resisted by pushing him away, he held onto her uniform,
resulting in some of the buttons becoming undone.
Sources say this has been a very frustrating experience for the officer, as her
initial report against Michael did not generate any response from her
colleagues.

However, due to her persistence for several months, a decision was finally
taken to initiate charges against him.   

The matter should have been heard in December last year (2023), when
Michael was summoned to appear in court to answer to the charges, but he
was unavailable due to a medical appointment off island.

Already, there have been several adjournments with this case. In January this
year, the matter could not proceed because the prosecutor was not at court
when the matter was called; and, again in March, Michael was not present for
the matter due to further medical appointments overseas.

MP Michael is being defended by attorney Hugh Marshall Jr.