and it continues...
Cinema boss and couple square off
Assault claimed at MovieTowne
By Kim Boodram
THE couple who last month claimed to have been assaulted at MovieTowne in Port of Spain said yesterday their are sticking to they story — even as MovieTowne boss, Derek Chin, prepares to take legal action against them for defaming his business.
Emile and Tara Dean, who were interviewed yesterday at the St Clair office of their attorney, Larry Lalla, have insisted they were the victims of a crime and said they are now being treated like criminals.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Chin maintained that the couple were being dishonest.
Both parties now want their names cleared, with the Deans saying they don't want any form of compensation from MovieTowne but they want the popular entertainment centre to own up to its security lapses.
The couple's claims were first made public in an e-mail circulated by a relative on June 20, detailing an assault incident in the western carpark of MovieTowne at Invaders' Bay.
The e-mail stated that on June 18, the couple were attacked at their car after leaving a movie around 11.40 p.m., with Emile Dean being beaten about the head with a gun and a piece of iron. The woman was already seated in the left front seat and her husband was about to settle in the driver's seat.
The couple said their attacker eventually fled, after struggling with Emile Dean for some time, by jumping into a car with other men and driving off.
They also accused the MovieTowne security guards of first ignoring their plight and then being unhelpful.
The Deans took issue with a paid advertisement of MovieTowne which claimed they have refused to cooperate with either the cinema or the police and that there are "significant discrepancies" in their story when compared to video footage of the period in question.
The couple also said they were treated badly by the police, who they claimed first accused them of lying, then suggested they apologise to MovieTowne.
"This has been a nightmare," said Emile Dean, who has the remains of stitches and lacerations around his scalp.
Tara Dean said they were traumatised in the week following the incident and were also unsure of whether they should pursue the matter.
They eventually called on attorney Lalla and a report was made at the Four Roads Police Station on July 8.
Tara Dean said the family has, in the midst of the MovieTowne affair, also had a series of serious family issues to deal with and this has made it difficult to be available at all times.
Lalla said: "They have not made any call for compensation, which points to the fact that they are telling the truth."
Chin said yesterday his lawyers, of the firm JD Sellier and Company, have sent letters to the couple and another relative, advising them of his intention to take legal action for the defamation of his facility.
He added that he has been hurt by the allegations made against MovieTowne, as he takes the well-being of his patrons seriously.
Detectives from the Four Roads Police Station CID said yesterday the matter was being investigated but declined to comment further.
