A young woman was yesterday ordered by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to pay $25,000 court costs after she declined to give evidence against her reputed husband who was accused of biting and slapping her.
The allegation against Joel Charles is that on January 26 at Cuyuni District, Mazaruni, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Shondelle Melville. Charles initially pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
However, the magistrate later entered a not guilty plea after his explanation and his attorney’s request for a chance to change the plea.
The prosecution’s facts are that the defendant and the Virtual Complainant (VC) share a relationship, and on the day in question the accused went home under the influence of alcohol and levelled accusations at the VC. As a result, an argument erupted between the two and the defendant allegedly dealt the VC several slaps, and then proceeded to bite her on her right side cheek. A report was made and the defendant was arrested and charged.
When given a chance to speak the 24-year-old miner told the magistrate that he was under the influence of alcohol, and “can’t remember nothing what happen. Next morning I wake up and see what happen to my wife and I sorry for her…I never had any problems with my wife…I love her.”
The Mazaruni resident was asked six times by the magistrate whether he was guilty or not guilty of assaulting his reputed wife, and five times he replied in the affirmative. However, at his lawyer’s insistence the defendant finally changed his mind and pleaded not guilty. The attorney also pleaded with the magistrate to be lenient with the accused.
However, Prosecutor Stephen Telford appealed to the magistrate to deal with the defendant accordingly in view of the seriousness of the matter. He stated that too many men have been beating up women and then blaming it on the influence of alcohol. Telford requested that the magistrate sentence the accused as he should be, using this as an example to others.
However, when the VC was asked twice by the magistrate if she would like to give evidence against the accused, she stated that, “I don’t want the story to go mo further.” Melville, who sported a sizeable bite mark on her right cheek, then asked the magistrate to “please give him a chance and just warn him.”
This prompted Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry to recall a case in a similar matter that was brought before her a while back, where the woman pleaded with her to be lenient with the man.
The magistrate concluded that the woman is now dead at the hands of the same man.
The matter was then dismissed and the reputed wife was ordered to pay the $25,000 court costs.
