Two men separately charged with possession of an offensive weapon caused momentary confusion in Magistrates' Court on Friday when Crown counsel Shade Subair discovered mid-prosecution that the two separate incidents were almost identical.

Dealing first with the case of 27-year old Marlon Rewan, of Warwick, Ms Subair told the court that officers stopped Rewan in front of the Knick Knack store on Reid Street on Boxing Day, 2002.

She said the Police report stated Rewan appeared “nervous and evasive”. When officers searched him under the Misuse of Drugs Act, they found a knife with a seven-inch blade in his left pocket.

When questioned why he had the knife, said Ms Subair, Rewan stated: “Easy, it's for protection.”

Later, she said, as Rewan was being taken to Hamilton Police Station, he told Police: “Don't worry, I'll be out in ten minutes, then I'll just get another one.”

Mr. Greaves fined Rewan $500,and Ms Subair moved on to the next case, that of 21-year old Jelani Smith.

Ms Subair, reading from the Police report, said Smith, also arrested on Boxing Day, was at the junction of Washington Lane and Reid Street when Police noticed him acting suspiciously.

Searching him under the Misuse of Drugs Act, she read, they found a black handled kitchen knife with a seven-inch blade in his left pocket.

Ms Subair continued to read, telling the court that when Police asked Smith why he had the knife, he replied: “For my protection.”

Then, she said, at Hamilton Police Station: “he told Police: ‘I'll be out in 20 minutes, then I'll get another one...'”

Ms Subair stopped. “I crave Your Honour's indulgence,” she said, wondering out loud if she was mistakenly reading Marlon Rewan's Police report once more.

“Everybody's saying the same thing,” observed Mr. Greaves.

However, he added, the statements were in fact different: “One says ten minutes, the other 20.”

“It appears so, Your Worship,” agreed Ms Subair drily.

Smith, like Rewan before him, was repentant before the court. “I never should have had it with me, I should've left it at home,” he said.

“I agree with you,” said Mr. Greaves, fining him $250.