A man who threatened to punch the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly was given a conditional discharge in Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrate Craig Attridge found Richard Foggo, 65, guilty yesterday of threatening Derrick Burgess last October.

Mr Burgess, who recently retired from politics after more than 30 years in the House of Assembly, told the court that Foggo, one of his constituents in Hamilton East (Constituency 5), said “some words” to him along Crawl Hill in August and followed him until he pulled into a private residence.

Mr Burgess then said Foggo spoke to him outside Crawl Gospel Chapel on October 20 and “uttered some undertones” while sitting in the same church pew.

The veteran politician said Foggo threatened to “punch [him] in the head” as he was buttoning his helmet after service, which caused Mr Burgess to get off his bike to defend himself.

However, two church members came outside and allowed Mr Burgess to leave the area.

Foggo, who represented himself during the trial, chose not to take the stand, but told the court that he never had a problem with Mr Burgess.

Mr Attridge surmised in his judgment that Mr Burgess got off his bike in October because he “thought [Foggo] would commit an unlawful act” and sentenced Foggo to a 12-month conditional discharge with probation for the offence.

Foggo will stand trial for stalking Wayne Furbert, another Progressive Labour Party MP, next week after multiple adjournments.

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