By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to libel for calling a woman a “thief” on Facebook, after telling the court she still owed him money.

Addis Huyler, 49, made the defamatory statement against Rowena Sutherland in a Facebook post on August 21.

Huyler reportedly warned others in the same post not to do business with Sutherland and claimed she still owed him money.

Huyler pleaded guilty to libel before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans.

He told the court that he and the complainant had signed a contract and that Sutherland had not fully paid him as agreed. He said that while Sutherland had made a partial payment, she still owed him about $600.

Huyler claimed the situation had hurt him financially.

After hearing his submissions, Magistrate Evans granted Huyler an absolute discharge.

Corporal Moultrie prosecuted the case.