A 45-year-old husband accused of beating and threatening to kill his wife on their 21st wedding anniversary was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The allegation is that on October 14 at Georgetown, Phillip Braithwaite, a craftsman of 133 North Melanie Damishana, unlawfully assaulted Denise Braithwaite so as to cause her actual bodily harm.
On the same day also he is alleged to have used threatening language to her resulting in a breach of the peace.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful assault and threatening language when they were read to him by the acting chief magistrate.
When given a chance to respond, the defendant told the court that on the day in question he had seen his wife in Georgetown with one of their daughters who should have been in school at the time. He said he tried to enquire the reason for their daughter’s absence from school and his wife raised her umbrella at him.
In a bid to avoid being hit by the umbrella, the defendant said, he “accidentally punched” his wife to the face.
However, the virtual complainant (VC) said she has suffered years of unbearable physical, emotional and verbal abuse at the hands of her husband and had to remove from her matrimonial home and return to her family house.
Braithwaite said that she moved with her two daughters some time in September, adding that her husband does not support them financially or in any other way. She also told the court that on the day in question she had taken one of her daughters to an internet cafe to have her school assignment printed and was standing outside the business place when her husband approached her in a very arrogant way.
She said he began shouting at her asking why their daughter was not at school. He then threatened to kill her, the VC said, and before she could even explain why she and her daughter were standing outside the internet cafe, the defendant threw her to the ground and began beating her mercilessly to the face.
In tears, the woman said that she was very embarrassed to have been treated that way in public and more so in front of her daughter. She added that what caused her to feel more hurt was the fact that it was their 21st wedding anniversary.
In frustration the VC said, “My worship, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t be treated in this way as if I have no value.”
After examining the swellings, black marks and many bloodshot spots that were in and around her eyes, the magistrate sent the VC to stand in front of her husband so he could have a look at “the injuries he had inflicted on her.”
After looking at the woman’s face for about four seconds, the defendant replied, “She must be throw something in she eye or something, me en know bout duh or wah happen.”
The matter was called to the bench and a lengthy discussion ensued.
On being told that he was remanded to prison, the defendant who had been loud and aggressive, appeared quite shocked. In an apologetic tone, he tried to give the magistrate other versions of what had caused him to do what he did, but by this time the court’s orderly had already removed him from standing before the magistrate.
As he was being escorted to the chute, in a very tearful tone he tried to explain to anyone who would listen what had caused him to react the way he did.
The unrepresented defendant was ordered to return to court on October 26.
