Accused tells court, ‘I hit her with my hands not with a padlock’

A woman who told the court “I hit her with my hands not with a padlock” was yesterday placed on a bond to keep the peace after she appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine–Beharry.

The allegation is that on September 18 at Charlestown, Jennevia Allen unlawfully assaulted Sheriann Benjamin.
The woman pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

In presenting the facts of the case Police Corporal Lionel Harvey, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant and the VC are living in the same compound but in different apartments. On the day in question, Harvey stated, the VC’s daughter was filling water from a pipe in the yard when the defendant approached and told her something which she reported to her mother. He said that an argument ensued between the two parties and the defendant subsequently became annoyed, picked up a padlock and hit the VC to her eye. The injured Benjamin reported the matter to the police and a medical was obtained, he concluded.

The acting chief magistrate asked the accused why she hit the VC with a padlock and the woman responded, “I never hit her with a padlock….She pushed me first then I lashed her with my hands, but perhaps the ring that was on my finger hurt her eyes, your worship.”

The magistrate then placed the woman on a bond to keep the peace and she was sent away on her own recognizance.