- 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.
This case in another typical example of why all young woman in our society should seize every opportunity given to them to educate themselves so as to become more empowered and independent . Woman who are uneducated are more likely to be fully depedent on men to meet their needs. Many men tend take advantage of this situation. These women are less empowered and have very few options. They tend to stay longer in abusive relationships. On the other hand some young women are simply unwilling to work hard and honest. They rather endure the abuse as a cost for a more glamorous lifestyle.
i think the only reason the woman stayed is because she feared for her life! if the b/f is as abusive as she described, think of what he can do to her if she treatens to leave. he would probably finish her off then and there.
talk out i appreciated your esntiments, but may i ask you, what tok you so long to get out of an abusive relationship. 10years i might have run senile. all i can say is that i am glad for you that you finallly found your way out before things got worst. and you know what happens these same guys that does these things to women they dont get anyway far you know, you your self sometimes turn around and pity them. because they left helpless wobbling in their own mire
sorry to say ,but even educated woman in high and low society are been abused by men in high and low society.it’s the mentality of some men that is no good!!!
Quite frankly, I think she was begging for that kind of cruelty.
How come she finally break away? what he could have done to her way back then , he can still do to her now………….
Listen, women are STRONG and it’s time they realised their strengths and use it to their advantage.
I am frankly fed up and outragede at these finiky allegations about coulda, woulda, shouldas.
Whatever yall.
She needs to get with a program and get on with her life.
There is lots of living out there SISTA
Woman are not independent in Guyana .Who is going to pay for the clubs cosmetics clothing ect. They depend on men to cash their unbounceable check so they have to continue to suffer at the hands of the controller.
Allison my dear it’s easy for you to live in Canada and say she begged for that kind of cruelty. Regardless of sex, who beggs to be abused? Who deserves to be abused and why? This sort of mentality condones abusive behaviours and do nothing to help those afflicted.
We do not know the personal circumstances except what we have read here. So many aspects may have contributed to her being held hostage to this abusive relationship. Isn’t it commendable that she finally broke free of her tormentor and is free to live a life she trully deserves?
I wish her Peace and Happiness and hopes she has a fullfilled life!
he should be locked forthwith.the next step is murder.dont let it reach that stage magistrate ogle
Its really funny sometimes when u listen to some abuse accusation …..it seems so impossible at times to read even to understand these situation that some women are lock under ……did she really mean to say that the house doesn’t have a phn for 5 yrs or is she sayin that the foolice did answer her call for that period of time …..then again she seems helpless so she had to put up with what ever comes to her, there are so much of to deny her alibi cus really don’t make any sense …..anyway glad that u are out of prison after serving ur 5 yrs for bein patriotic …..guess u learn a valid lesson to sweat for ur bread and feel free do whatever u want to do ……Peace Out
out on bail, wow, what happen to a restraining order, abuse women stay with their men because of fear, how dare the judge ask him if he behaved the way he did because he was scared that someone would take his woman away, that judge needs training on domestic violence, feel sorry for the girl, one day she’ll meet a good man and would think he’ll abuse her too, she’s emotionally, mentally and even physically scarred for life