Gardener Jailed for 5 Years for Chopping Wife

Gardener jailed for 5 years for chopping wife

By AZARD ALI Tuesday, November 27 2012

A HIGH Court judge yesterday echoed the concerns made on Friday by Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers Caesar, saying that judicial officers must also note the circumstances which trigger off domestic violence. In stating this, Justice Malcolm Holdip sentenced Basil De Leon, 60, to five years in jail for chopping his wife with a cutlass.

The judge however, presiding in the San Fernando High Court, discounted the 29 months the Tabaquite cassava gardener spent in jail awaiting trial. De Leon will therefore serve 31 months in prison. The judge justified the court sentence on De Leon, for wounding Meena Rampersad, 53, with intent, by the husband’s contention that the common-law wife had taken $68,000 worth of items from the matrimonial home, and had gone to live with another wiyh man.

De Leon on Friday last, was found not guilty, in the San Fernando High Court by a jury, of attempted murder for chopping off one of her fingers with a cutlass. The jury found him guilty on the lesser count of wounding the woman.

Holdip told De Leon that no doubt, De Leon was incensed by Rampersad taking possessions valued $68,000 from the matrimonial house, and going to live at Pierre Phillip Trace, New Grant. The wife left him in 2006, and on November 11, 2007, De Leon confronted her at her new home, whilst armed with a cutlass.

Holdip said, “I must echo the sentiments of the Honourable Chief Magistrate in which she asked all judicial officers (magistrates), to be aware of the fact that where claims of domestic violence are made, cognisance must be taken of these claims because we may never know what triggers a domestic situation to escalate into a domestic violence.”

Rampersad had testified before a jury, that when she left the matrimonial home, De Leon confronted her with a cutlass in front her new home at Pierre Phillip Trace, and chopped her twice. She lost the middle finger on the left hand, and was cut across the wrist.

Yesterday, Senior State Attorney Angelica Teelucksingh, told Holdip the courts needed to send a message to society, that even if the genesis for becoming incensed was a domestic violence situation, violence must not be the last resort. She said: “The public’s confidence in the criminal justice system, must be strengthened by its sentencing.”

Holdip reminded De Leon that in 1985, he was sentenced to seven years for manslaughter. The judge then went on to tell De Leon that no doubt he was emotionally inflamed by Rampersad taking off with the house valuables, but warned that it was no excuse to resort to violence. In passing sentence, Holdip said that upon De Leon’s arrest, he was refused bail and spent some 29 prison months in jail awaiting trial. He was granted bail by a Judge in Chambers on March 17, 2010. The judge sentenced him to five years hard labour, but informed De Leon that 29 months would be deducted from the term. The commencement of the 31 months in jail began yesterday.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,169782.html

Speaker Wants Law Enforced to Stop Violence Against Women

Speaker wants law enforced to stop violence against women

By ANDRE BAGOO Tuesday, November 27 2012

SPEAKER Wade Mark yesterday called for the enforcement of legislation to curb instances of violence against women.

“It is our responsibility as parliamentarians to ensure that relevant legislation is in place to effectively curb the instances of violence against women and girls, as well as monitor the enforcement of existing laws,” Mark said in welcoming remarks at a regional parliamentary workshop held at the Hyatt Regency.

The Speaker’s remarks came one day after the observance of The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and amid a 16-day programme of activism on the topic which began on Sunday.

“We all need to constantly try to redress the status of women and girls around the world, who are unable to achieve their full potential as a result of violence that is so callously inflicted upon them,” Mark said. “Every day another mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, or niece, is subjected to violence in some form or fashion.”

Last week Friday, Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar said 12,106 domestic violence cases were filed in 2009/2010 and 12,106 cases were filed in 2010/2011. Sunday Newsday reported that incidents of inmate attacks on female prisons officers have also been on the rise in recent months. Yesterday’s parliamentary workshop, supported in part by the Government, was put on in collaboration with the Switzerland-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation which aims to make parliaments more responsive to populations.

According to the IPU’s first ever Global Parliamentary Report, TT is slightly above the world average in terms of the number of women in Parliament.

There are 19 women among the 71 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a rate of about 27 percent. While this is far from the ideal of 50 percent, the rate is higher than the global average which is 19.25 percent. The Rwandan Chamber of Deputies has the highest percentage of women (56.25 percent) in the world. It is followed by the General Council of Andorra (53.57 percent).

Of 130 parliaments sampled, only 17 percent have chambers comprising over 30 percent women, a sign that there is still a long way to go.

According to the IPU, there are 8,716 woman parliamentarians in the world. The percentage of women in elected parliament chambers (as opposed to appointed chambers) was higher: 20 percent as opposed to 18 percent.

Mark did not speak on the issue of the number of women in Parliament, but noted the workshop — which will be conducted over two days — will examine questions of “representation” in Parliament. “There are five sessions, each detailing with different aspects of improving political representation and constituency work,” he said.

“The Global Parliamentary Report focuses on the evolving relationship between citizens and Parliaments, and aims to analyse how citizens’ expectations are changing, and how parliaments, politicians and parliamentary staff are responding to these changes,” Mark said.

“Legislatures need to be aware of the concerns, needs and general feelings of the citizenry, many of whom have become increasingly concerned with issues, rather than institutions.

IPU Secretary General Anders Johnson noted many parliaments in the world “trace their roots back to the Middle Ages”.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169788.html

70% of Women Suffer Gender-Based Violence

70% of women suffer gender-based violence

Tuesday, November 27 2012

Over 70 percent of women worldwide experience gender-based violence. This statistic was given yesterday by Dr Deborah Thomas-Austin, president of the World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).

The YWCA of Trinidad and Tobago, in conjunction with the United Nations, launched its “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence” at Capital Plaza, Port-of-Spain.

Through its “In Her Shoes” exhibition, the YWCA shows the lives of women who experience domestic violence.

The association intends to take its display to locations around the country to facilitate a forum of discussion about gender-based violence. As well they will have a Solidarity Walk against gender-based violence around the Savannah on December 1, World Aids Day.

In attendance yesterday was Zalayhar Hassanali, wife of late President Noor Hassanali, who stated that she has been supporting this cause for over 60 years. Hassanali was proud to see the YWCA take the “16 Days of Activism” to the public. She stated that gender-based violence is a “real scourge on society” and the cause must not cease.

Marcus Kissoon, a representative from the Rape Crisis Centre, recalled the earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. He stated that if TT were to face a natural disaster which would force people into camps, he fears that our women would be abused as women were in Haiti.

“We would have a crisis within a crisis with regards to gender-based violence.

This is why we need a national gender policy. That way people affected by crime, from the home to the workplace, would have a sense of justice.

From a psychological point of view, an NGP would give a sense of therapy having this legal net,” Kissoon said. He added that the main way to ensure the rights of women would be to have a comprehensive national gender policy which is sensitive to the rights of all citizens based on gender.

Also in attendance were students of Bishop’s Centenary High School who viewed the exhibition “In Her Shoes.”

Theanna Alleyne, a 15-year-old Form 5 student, told Newsday, “Personally it is a very uplifting and educational programme. The day in their shoes is very uplifting and touching. It made me realise that education is the most important thing right now.”

The 16 Days of Activism began on Sunday, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169787.html

Husband Guilty of Wounding Wife

Husband guilty of wounding wife

By AZARD ALI Saturday, November 24 2012

BASIL DE LEON, a cassava farmer of New Grant, Princes Town was found guilty yesterday of chopping off a finger of his common-law wife, five years ago.

He will be sentenced on Monday by Justice Malcolm Holdip in the San Fernando High Court.

The wife, Meena Rampersad, 53, testified before a jury that she left the matrimonial home and De Leon confronted her with a cutlass in front her new home at Pierre Phillip Trace, New Grant, and chopped her twice. She lost the middle finger on the left hand, and was cut across the wrist.

De Leon, 60, of Tabaquite, was charged with attempted murder and the lesser count of wounding with intent.

Yesterday, a jury of nine members, found De Leon not guilty on the first count, but guilty on the lesser count by a majority verdict of eight for and one against.

Senior State Attorney Angelica Teelucksingh led evidence from Rampersad who testified that she and De Leon lived together for ten years and nine months in Tabaquite. They had two children, but De Leon had six other children from a previous marriage.

Rampersad said she left the matrimonial home and went to live on her own at Pierre Phillip Trace, but on November 19, 2007, husband De Leon turned up at her gates armed with a cutlass. She told the jury that De Leon attacked her with a cutlass, during which she was cut twice. She added that, De Leon told her, “Meena, come kneel down here let me kill you.”

Attorney Rekha Ramjit who represented De Leon, led evidence from the accused husband, who admitted that he went to Rampersad’s home. However, he told the jury of four women and five men, that he told wife Rampersad: “Meena, you take everything from the house; you could’ve take half.”

De Leon testified that it was Rampersad who attacked him with a knife and he swung the cutlass. He said, he drew his cutlass, which was tendered into evidence and swung it twice. The blade, the husband added, was sharpened on both sides which accounted for her being cut.

Yesterday, the jury retired for the mandatory three hours, and when Holdip asked the foreman if she and the rest of the panel arrived at a verdict in respect of the attempted murder, the woman answered: “No.”

The foreman was then asked whether their members were divided and she said it was a unanimous decision of nine in favour of not guilty.

The judge’s Judicial Officer then asked the foreman about their decision on the second count of wounding. She said that they were undecided. Asked the ratio of the division without revealing whether guilty or not guilty, the foreman said: “Eight to One.”

After telling the court that eight of their numbers were in favour of a guilty verdict and one against, Holdip told the foreman that according to law, the verdict was a majority one and therefore the accused was guilty on the second count.

Ramjit will make a plea in mitigation on Monday after which the judge will pass sentence. The accused man was remanded into custody to await the sentence.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,169698.html

12,106 domestic violence cases filed

 

 

12,106 domestic violence cases filed

By LEISELLE MARAJ Saturday, November 24 2012

CHIEF Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar yesterday stressed the importance played by judicial officers in cases of domestic violence as she spoke at a media launch of 16 Days of Activism which begins tomorrow and is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Activities during this time frame have been organised by the Rape Crisis Society and the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

At the launch, held at 1 Robinson Ville, Belmont, Ayers Ceasar revealed shocking domestic violence statistics. She said for the 2009/2010 law term in the Trinidad and Tobago Magistrates’ Courts, 12,106 new domestic violence applications were filed and 10,817 applications were determined. For the 2010/2011 period, 11,984 new applications were filed and 12, 041 applications were determined.

“These figures should be of concern to us all. These statistics, which can be found in the Judiciary’s Annual Report for this period, also reveal for 2009/2010 term, the magisterial district of Arima received the highest number of applications whilst Mayaro had the least. After 2010/2011, Arima again had the highest number and Rio Claro had the least. I am sure that you would agree with me that these statistics are indeed shocking,” she said.

Other statistics show women experience an average of 35 incidents of domestic violence before reporting to the police. “Judicial officers play an important role in the legal systems response. Judicial officers can express authority as the ultimate dispensers of Justice as we are the ultimate legal authority. If as judicial officers we treat domestic violence seriously, so too will the parties and the rest of the criminal justice system,”Ayers-Caesar said.

She said officers would have to deal with victims of domestic violence who come to the courts for help who do not have sufficient resources such as attorneys, an adequate source of income, access to counselling, functional extended families or even a safe place to live which can be a source of frustration for the judicial officer.

The officer may feel he or she is being asked to solve problems beyond the court’s ability to act and will also experience a sense of powerlessness sometimes which persons who encounter the abused may feel. No other societal institution, she said however, has the enforcement power attributed to the court.

“While counsellors, advocates, social workers and others can advise the abuser to stop his behaviour, only the court can order him to attend counselling, prohibit his contact with the victim and even incarcerate him where necessary,” she explained.

The community on a whole suffers from domestic violence, she said since persons who may try to help during an episode of domestic violence may end up being injured or even be killed. “The cost to the community of lost lives and resources is a constant reminder that domestic violence is not a family affair or a private affair. It is a community affair demanding a community response. Early intervention by the legal system can save lives. As judicial officers, we have an opportunity to stop domestic violence before it becomes extremely dangerous or homicidal through early intervention,” she said.

Ayers-Caesar said the justice system plays an essential part of the solution to domestic violence and should be part of a co-ordinated community effort to end the consequences of violence within the family.

The criminal justice system however needs to improve its response to domestic violence. She said there is need to improve communication and information sharing between the other key stakeholders within the system for a more collaborative approach.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169677.html

Relatives Speak Out

Relatives: Killed man was victim of abuse

By Jensen LaVende and Carolyn Kissoon

Story Created: Nov 12, 2012 at 9:57 PM ECT

Story Updated: Nov 13, 2012 at 9:10 AM ECT 

 

Stabbed to death: Anthony Lee Sing

ANTHONY LEE SING was the victim of domestic abuse and died as a result of that.

Speaking with members of the media yesterday, relatives of the dead man, who wished not to be identified, said it was not he who was the aggressor as reported but the mother of his child, who is in police custody.

The relatives, who spoke at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday, said the female relative who stabbed Lee Sing, 27, three times about the body, was the jealous type and was very abusive to him.

The women described Lee Sing as a "smart man" and said he had the ability to make anyone like him, even those whom he had outsmarted. The women questioned why the female relative had to stab their loved one so many times.

Lee Sing, 27, was stabbed in the chest, abdomen and hand on Sunday afternoon. Lee Sing died at his Sushilla Drive, Chase Village, Chaguanas home following what was described as a fight between the two, which occurred around 7.30 a.m. The woman told investigators that she stabbed Lee Sing several times to defend herself.

Police are awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether any charges will be laid against a mother of three.

The female suspect was treated at the San Fernando General Hospital for stab wounds and released into police custody on Sunday evening. A Colombian national was also detained by police.

The 27-year-old woman was nearby. The Colombian man was also in the house.

Two of Lee Sing's three children were at home when the incident occurred.

Police said Lee Sing and the woman were seen liming in Chaguanas the night before. They returned to Lee Sing's rented apartment around 4 a.m.

The woman told police that they began arguing and Lee Sing became violent towards her. He began cutting her about the body with a knife, police said.

Investigators said the woman grabbed the knife and stabbed Lee Sing in the chest, abdomen and hand.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by a district medical officer.

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Relatives__Killed_man_was_victim_of_abuse-179034911.html

Tragic End To Domestic Dispute

 

TRAGIC END FOR FATHER OF 3

By STACY MOORE Monday, November 12 2012

AN abusive relationship yesterday ended in tragedy with a father stabbed to death in front of his three young children. A woman who was also stabbed in the incident is now warded under police guard at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the San Fernando General Hospital in critical condition.

The man, identified as Anthony Lee Sing, 27, died on the spot after being stabbed in the chest and other parts of his body.

The incident took place in an apartment at Sushilla Drive, Chase Village, Chaguanas, where Lee Sing lived with the woman and his three children — a one month old baby and two boys, aged 7 and 11. The children were in the apartment at the time of the killing. They have since been placed in the care of a relative who told Newsday the boys are in a deeply traumatised state.

The relative said her prayers were with both families involved in the tragedy.

“It is tragic what happened,” she said, adding she was told the woman was “cut up badly while trying to defend herself.”

Police have detained a Colombian man in connection with the incident.

Reports are that Lee Sing and the woman were last seen together in company with a Colombian man on Saturday night in Chaguanas.

According to police reports, at about 8 am yesterday, at the Sushilla Drive apartment, Lee Sing also called “Chinee”, began arguing with the woman. The argument escalated over money and Lee Sing reportedly picked up a knife and stabbed the woman once to her abdominal area and about her body. Police say the woman was able to retrieve the knife from Lee Sing and in turn stabbed him in the chest and about his body. He died on the spot. A district medical officer subsequently pronounced Lee Sing dead.

The woman, said to be originally from Diego Martin, was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Facility and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

Yesterday, neighbours reported hearing nightly quarrels between Lee Sing and the woman. One man said he heard the screams coming from the apartment early yesterday morning.

“I heard them arguing and quarrelling. But I did not know it would have ended so,” said one distraught neighbour who said Lee Sing recently moved into the rental apartment with his chidren and the woman.

“But you always hear them quarrelling and arguing. I don’t know what they were arguing for but it didn’t have to end in this way. It is very hard,” the neighbour said in shock.

Another woman said that she awoke to see an Emergency Health Service (EHS) vehicle in front the family home.

“The woman was taken on a stretcher into the van. And it was only after that I found out what happen. This neighbourhood is a quiet area. There has never been any violence here. People here are mostly involved in worship. ‘You see next to where they live is a place of worship,” the neighbour said.

She said she last saw Lee Sing alive two days ago when he was walking one of his sons along the street.

An autopsy on Lee Sing’s body is expected to be performed today at the Forensic Science Centre to determine the cause of death. Supt Johnny Abraham visited the scene and is spearheading investigations.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169105.html

Man stabbed in domestic dispute

By Carolyn Kissoon carolyn.kissoon@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Nov 11, 2012 at 9:56 PM ECT

Story Updated: Nov 12, 2012 at 7:40 AM ECT 

 

Father-of-three Anthony Lee Sing was stabbed to death during a fight with a female relative yesterday morning.

Lee Sing, 27, was stabbed in the chest, abdomen and hand.

He collapsed and died in the dining room at his rented apartment located at Sushilla Drive, Chase Village, Chaguanas.

Police said the female relative confessed that she knifed Lee Sing after he became violent around 7.30 a.m.
The 27-year-old woman was treated at the San Fernando General Hospital for stab wounds she suffered in the fight. She was detained into police custody.

The woman told investigators that she stabbed Lee Sing several times to defend herself.

A Colombian national, who witnessed the stabbing, was also detained by police.

Investigators said Lee Sing and the woman had spent the night liming in Chaguanas and returned to his apartment around 4 a.m.

Neighbours contacted the police, after loud screams were heard coming from the house.

A team of officers including Insp Edward Livia, Sgt Andy Mohammed and Cpl Balroop responded and discovered Lee Sing's body.

The woman was nearby.

A blood-stained kitchen knife was recovered.

Police said two of Lee Sing's children were at home when he was stabbed.

The children, ages two, five and seven, were being cared for by relatives yesterday.

Residents of Sushilla Drive, Chase Village, were reluctant to speak about the incident. The Express was told that Lee Sing recently moved into the community.

A district medical officer viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre in St James. This brings the murder toll for the year to 346 according to an Express tally.

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Man_stabbed_in_domestic_dispute-178731231.html

Husbands Words To His Wife - ‘Kneel down let me kill you’

‘Kneel down let me kill you’

By AZARD ALI Thursday, November 8 2012

A JURY in San Fernando yesterday heard how a husband chopped his wife twice, then, holding a cutlass, asked her to kneel before him, so he could kill her.

Meena Rampersad, 54, testified in the San Fernando High Court that she lived with Basil De Leon, 59, for ten years and nine months, but left the matrimonial home in 2006. They had two children, but on November 19, 2007, husband De Leon turned up at her gate armed with a cutlass.

De Leon, of Tabaquite, is before Justice Malcolm Holdip, charged with attempted murder of ex-wife Rampersad.

Yesterday, the woman told a jury of nine men and women, how she had packed her clothes and went to live at Pierre Phillip Trace, New Grant. She was sitting outside her apartment on November 19, she recalled, when at about 10 am, ex-husband De Leon turned up. He had a cutlass upraised in his hand, she said.

Rampersad testified that De Leon said, “You took everything from the house, and gone to live with a next man. Ah come to kill you, and yuh man. Yuh think I stupid....ah come to kill both of you.”

Rampersad told the judge and jury that De Leon raised the cutlass and fired a chop. “I brakes with my left hand and my finger got chopped. I then turned around to go inside.

“I saw him coming right behind me. He said he would have to kill me. He keep asking ‘where the man... tell the man to come out.”’

In answer to questions from Senior State Attorney, Angelica Teelucksingh, Rampersad testified that ex-husband De Leon came down with the cutlass again. She said she blocked the chop with her left hand, and was cut on the wrist. The woman said she bawled out and noticed that she was bleeding. She said, “I see blood everywhere. I said ‘Oh boy, what you doing?” Rampersad said she called out to her neighbour, whose name she gave as, De Angelo.

Rampersad then told the jury of five women and four men, that she hid behind a car parked in the driveway, but De Leon challenged her again. When she dodged him, he beckoned her to come out into the open, kneel down, so that he could kill her. Rampersad testified: “My hand was burning. He said ‘Meena come and kneel down here leh meh kill yuh.’ He kept saying that. He had the cutlass in his hand.”

The woman said she ran inside the house and locked the door.

Attorney Rekha Ramjit, who is defending De Leon, cross-examined Rampersad yesterday, who said that an ambulance took her to hospital where she was warded for two days. The trial continues tomorrow.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,168931.html

Rape on the rise, but reports may be down

Rape on the rise, but reports may be down

By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Saturday, November 3 2012

A University of the West Indies Institute (UWI) professor on Gender and Development Studies said the “social response to incest as taboo, is shifting” and more reports were being made.

“Now there is a moral demand you should say something. There is a new blame cast on people for not saying anything, whether it is teachers, mothers. The social response to incest as taboo is shifting. I think that will affect the reporting of it,” said Gabrielle Hosein in an interview yesterday.

On Wednesday at the weekly police briefing spokesperson for the TT Police Service (TTPS), Assistant Superintendent Joanne Archie said for 2011 the police received 484 reports of sexual offences, which include rape, incest and sexual intercourse with a minor, and statutory rape.

She said, “as of September this year, we had 698 reported cases of sexual offences, but the majority of these were cases of statutory rape.”

Responding to questions, she said there was a noticeable increase in “reports of incest in the Southern Division while in the Eastern Division, there was an increase in statutory rape cases.”

She urged commuters, particularly women, to observe basic precautions when travelling alone.

Hosein said she could not comment on the data, and more thorough systematic data collection was needed. “We don’t know what the numbers mean. Yes, there may be an overall increase, but we don’t know if it is an increase in reporting, or increase in incidence.”

Commenting on the problem of statutory rape, Hosein differentiated between minors having sex with each other, and adults having sex with minors. She said the difference must be kept in mind since “the power is never equal” when sex took place involving minors and adults.

Hosein said attitudes to statutory rape have also undergone change.

“There is a lot of public discourse with regard to that. It is becoming increasingly less and less okay, for men to exercise their sexuality with whom they choose.”

Hosen said questions about men’s sexuality and its implications for women and girls were being challenged today.

She said there was need for more information on who were the perpetrators of rape. Issues which must be considered include: Are rapes being committed by men who have been in prison? Are there issues related to drug and substance abuse, mental illness?

“What is the profile of men who have been convicted of rape? That is something for the TTPS.”

Rapes have been committed during breaking and entering at homes.

Hosein said, “the question is how can those violent, domestic breaking and entering be prevented and, the response time by police.”

The absence of safe public transport on off-routes was also “putting women in danger.”

She said most public transportation off the main roads was via PH cars, and this sector was unregulated.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,168719.html

$3,500 fine for Breaching Protection Order

$3,500 fine for breaching Protection Order

By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Wednesday, October 31 2012

ALERTED by the loud screams of his four-year-old daughter, who moments earlier was scolded by her mother, a man began making death threats to the woman. The man, Keron Wilson, was yesterday fined $3,500 by a Port-of-Spain magistrate before whom he appeared for breaching a protection order, by using threatening language.

Wilson pleaded guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Cheron Raphael, in the Third Court, to answer the charge which occurred on Monday last at Chafford Court in Port-of-Spain.

Court prosecutor, Sgt Gale Charles, told the court that the mother was scolding the child when Wilson approached her and said, “I will cuff you in the face. I will rip you apart. When you come downstairs in the yard, I will deal with you. I will kill you, it is just timing.” The prosecutor noted on June 30 last, the woman had obtained a protection order against Wilson.

Police officers were contacted and when told of the report, Wilson admitted he had “stepped in” because the mother was beating the child.

Yesterday Wilson, who was unrepresented by counsel, explained to the magistrate, he was on his way to watch wrestling on television when he heard the loud screams of his daughter. Wilson said when he called out to the child, he saw a hand print on her chest. The child, he added, told him her mother had slapped her in the chest. He denied making any threats about killing the mother.

“(Before this incident) I had spent $250 for chest pains my child was having. This is the reason why I breach the order. I did ask her if she would like someone put a hand print on her chest,” Wilson said to Raphael.

The prosecutor denied there was any marks on the child’s chest when police officers visited the scene. She noted however the mother was correcting the child by hitting her.

Prosecutor Charles further noted that often such incidents go to another level. The fact a protection order was taken out against Wilson spoke volumes, she added.

Raphael suggested to Wilson that he learn to control himself, and if he felt the mother was being too harsh with their child, then he should report it to police.

After fining him $3,500, the magistrate noted: “Breaching a protection order is serious business.” She gave him three months to pay the fine. In default he would serve nine months, hard labour, in prison.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,168550.html