- court hears
“This man has been abusing me for the last five years… locks me in the house… doesn’t allow me to communicate with my family or anyone else,” a distressed woman told Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday.
Orlando Harris
The woman’s 37-year-old boyfriend, Orlando Harris, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with unlawful assault and assault causing actual bodily harm. He was granted bail in the sum of $65,000.
Harris who resides at Lot 173 Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown told the court that he is the owner of El Sol, an import/export company which deals in general merchandise. The businessman pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
It is alleged that on November 29 at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, Harris unlawfully assaulted his girlfriend Elizabeth Barker so as to cause her actual bodily harm and unlawfully assaulted her sister, Amanda Teixeira.
Barker told the court that she had lived with the accused for the past five years and during that time the man had continuously abused her. According to the woman, she was never given any space and had been denied any form of communication. Her every move, she said, was monitored by Harris.
Magistrate Robertson invited the parties to approach the bench where a lengthy discussion ensued. There was a pause in the case while the court waited on a probation officer.
Teixeira reiterated what her sister said and also told the court that on the day in question she was cuffed and slapped by Harris.
“Are you scared someone will take her away from you? That is why you behave so?” the magistrate asked Harris.
Harris was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $65,000 and he has to return to court on January 6 next year.
Although it is very much wrong for anyone to man or woman handle anyone, I must say without seeming insensitive, that I cannot believe that this woman hang around for more licks after being with this man for five years. I am just speaking from my point of view and de first time someone lay a finga on me man or woman that is open for blows. I will have to walk away from dem cause I wouldn’t want to loose my sanity or my freedom over a worthless piece of junk.
There is no excuse for anyone to lay a hand on another person and this man is so way out of line and obviously have personal issues. I will not pass judgement, but hope he is dealt with severely by the court.
dove i am a man and i feel for that woman , sometimes its easier to pass judgement from the outside. i can tell that the woman was genuinely afraid of that man. he is a successful businessman and he’s probably very influential in the town. look how he easily got bail. a man of lesser means would have been remanded. theres not much justice for women in guyanese society, and thats coming from a man.
DONT YOU THINK THAT APART FROM THE ABUSE THAT SHE CLAIM SHE METED OUT, SHE IS ALSO CLAIMING THAT SHE WAS LOCKED UP FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, UNBELIVEABLE? SHE DAMM LIE, GUYANA HAS NO DUNGEON, THE MAN IS A BUSINESS MAN, SHE COULD HAVE GOT AWAY IF SHE WANTED TO, SHE STILL GOT VISITORS IN HER SISTER, AND HER BRUTALITY CLAIM COULD HAVE COME EARLIER IF SHE WANTED TO.
N.B. I am no supporter of women brutality.
abuse women stay because of fear, or he probably threatened to kill her or family members if she tried to escape, even if he was granted bail, there should have been restraining order, and the magistrate turns around and ask him, ” are u scared, that someone will take her away from u, that’s why u behave like that” what a stupid question, that magistrate needs training on how to deal with domestic violence
Leaving is the the hardest and most dangerous period for many women.
This when they get killed.
Guyana urgently needs to increase battered shelters and safe houses. Let the army protect these safe houses.
“Keep it “LIT”
I would like to delieve that she has been abuse for 5 years and without communicating with her family .What was her sister doing there because she was also assulted also. Beside he has a business to run i am sure she does not have a personal body guard. In my openion this is all financial motivated that is why she hang around. Like sparrow Said Black up she eye and bruise up she knee then she gon love you eternanly.
Women stay with abusive men because they love them and think that they would change and also for finanical reasons
Ane:::you got it right……and in many cases these women will stick around….take care……..
Dove, I agree with everything you said, but you have to understand, no one knows this woman circumstances and why she hung in there for so long. There could be a number of reasons why she had to stay in that relationship. Even if that was the case she apparently had no family support. But I am glad that SOB was finally caught up with. No one should have to live like that and I give her credit for hanging in so long.
you are right, i am only seeing from my stand point and position and i agree that there could be many other factors in play, but it is sooo hard to take when over and over these abuse keep happening and these women hang on to dead beat men when they do not have to. They cannot see the light to realize that these men need them and not the other way around.
I hope by the time the next court date comes, he doesn’t do something worse to her. He should be given a larger sum bail, for both sisters.
My advice to the gilrfriend is “find yourself a decent man (lover) and not another father”
men please treat women with respect if was not for them many of us would not be around today …….
good reply sharon
What? Father? Are you suggesting that fathers must beat their children. ISNM
in reply to your story, captioned girlfriend abused for five years. this woman got to be insane to be battered around for five long years, that would be equal to 60 months. she has to be nuts. why run now is the blows more than you. why not continue another five years in your prison. and then another five.
why would a woman in her righted senses go throughsuch turmoil, were you slumbering, has the right kind of blows aroused you from your deep sleep. this woman is so foolish, nonesense.
i am 35years of age and i have never had a guy to brutalize me. i am working and have no needs to depend on aguy to maintain me. some women throw themselves down and dont want to seems to elevate themself.
they want these guys to support them, yes they going to give you but you cant talk, walk, nor run hard or else prepare for the licks. educate youreslf and be somebody and no one can blow any whistle at you. i aint tekking knock from no guy, a good guy dosent beat a woman , knowing how precious they are, he treats them likes roses that grows beautifully grown in a garden.
my respect to all the men out there that have loyal respect for women and give them the honor they deserved. and not just to be nice to them in lovmaking but to cherish them etenally.
Yvette i like the fact that you’re an independent but my sister everyone is not fortunate like you. i was in a very abusive relationship for 10 years ,could go nowhere had to hide to talk to my family ,had to sex even if i did want it and i could go on and on but while i was in that position i took the time to learn the business well did some online courses and educate myself well , and you want today i,m a sucess business woman ,life is not always easy but you have to make some good come out of your experience.today i watch at time and smile because i dont hate him but he is not even in my class no more ,so i hope that this woman could do like me and walk away now and show him that she gain from his abuse.these mens,but sister did dont run into a next relationship no time soon take your time good things comes to those who wait.
Yvette…you are so right..I am saying this all the time that these women contribute to these assaults…On The first assault they have to put a stop to it because it opens a way of more to come…the men beat them, apoligise to them and they continue in the relationship and this goes on until they get their dead…Everyday this is going on and they are not coming to their senses and learn..If they do not have family support, there are organisations out there that they can go to…But this finincial excuse is coming up to often…get the hell out and do something for yourself…1 door close 100 is open…as long as there is life there is hopes…
well spoken,i am a man who hate to see these things,my father try it once on my mother just infront of me and had to let him know that if he do that i will disrespect him,he put his hands down,shame on woman who stay taking licks and as for the men,they need to throw them into jail.
this guy is so insecured that he is afraid that someoneelse might want to pick and eat his fruit, and he will be blown away. why not handcuffed her to the bad and done since you monitored her every move and held her captive in her own prison. you should signed up at the georgetown prisons because you know good how to keep prisoners for years.
a number of factors contribute to why women stay with these men…it could be social, economical and cultural etc….the men who abuse these women know exactly what kinda woman to prey on….these women could have come from prior abusive backgrounds i.e emotional, physical or sexual abuse as children….so they tend to go for men that would be abusive towards them unfortunately continuing the cycle of abuse. For the most part even the abuser may come from an abusive background also.
well said Thereal_Kanaima!!
for all those who are putting the woman downyou have not walked one day in that woman,s shoes.i was abused physically and i am not stupid nor financally dependent.i will not pass judgement you have to look deep down into every individual circumstance.she is now seeking help.she would know when it is enough.when domestic abuse in reported to some police station the same people who shold help are sometimes the fiends of the abusers.they tell you to go home and make up.we in gt need to find ways to help .they are also women who are the abusers and the men feel ashamed to let people that they are being abused.
Why did this newpaper put a picture with the man’s back facing the audience? Not wise at all.
This coward should be given the full force of the law, knowing that recently a lot of women were abused by their spouses, when confronted by another man they are mamitas!
You never know , maybe he threaten to kill her if she try to leave .
Remember he always monitoring her movement .
Dispicable beast ! They should have him sell out his business and give the money to charity ! How about that for punishment , eh ?