Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday exercised her discretion when she ordered a man who unlawfully assaulted his reputed wife to serve one-month’s imprisonment and undergo counseling upon his release.
Mark Singh pleaded guilty to a common assault charge which stated that on May 12 at Regent Street he unlawfully assaulted Sajata Persaud.
According to the particulars of the charge, Singh is Persaud’s reputed husband and they reside in the same house. On the day in question Singh went home under the influence of alcohol and inquired about his meal and was told that it was being prepared. He becameannoyed and began to abuse Persaud. When the food was finished Singh ate all of it and when he was asked why he did this he chucked Persaud. She subsequently reported the matter to the Alberttown Police Station and he was contacted by the police. A confrontation was held and he was later arrested and charged with the present offence.
In response to the charge Singh said that he had nothing to say. However he pleaded with the magistrate for a chance, vowing never to come before her again.
Singh’s reputed wife said that he had been imprisoned recently for abusing her but that that did not deter him. She said that he spent one year. His sentence for abusing her was six months and while in custody his stay was extended over his use of ‘weed’.
The magistrate expressed the view that perhaps jail was not serving its purpose as a deterrent for his bad behaviour and counseling might be best for him since his alcohol consumption affects his behaviour.
