Broad St man remanded on wife beating charge

A 35-year-old Broad Street man was on Monday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court accused of beating his reputed wife and locking her in their home.

Omar Ali

Omar Ali pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm when Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to him.

He denied that on May 22 at his Lot 16 Broad Street home he unlawfully assaulted Anita Singh so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

Singh, who displayed a swollen black and blue left eye, stated that the incident stemmed from her having multiple phone conversations with a male friend much to the displeasure of Ali.

She said she was playing matchmaker with the friend and a female family member of hers when her husband intervened during the last phone conversation and started beating her. Afterwards he locked her in their home.

She said the beating was a regular occurrence and on a previous occasion Ali had broken her hand.

Ali then told the court that he had rescued Singh from being stabbed by an ex-lover in the past.

Singh’s ex-husband, who was also present in court, stated that he was the one who made the report about Singh’s last beating to the police station.

He stated that Singh’s mother had called and informed him that Singh was once again beaten by Ali and locked in the house.

Prosecutor Stephen Telford then objected to the bail application.

The magistrate ordered that Ali return to court on June 16.