‘Credible’ woman reprimanded and discharged over common assault

Shellon Gillian was found to be a credible witness yesterday  in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and  was reprimanded and discharged on a charge of common assault.

Gillian appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton accused of unlawfully assaulting Natasha Williams on June 1 at James Street, Albouystown.

Gillian pleaded guilty to the charge and sought an opportunity to explain the situation to the magistrate.

Initially Gillian had entered a not guilty plea but when told that she would not be able to explain herself until the matter went to trial she decided to plead guilty.

Gillian related that she has two children with a man who now has a relationship with the virtual complainant.  She said that somehow the VC got her telephone number and was in the habit of calling and abusing her over the phone.

The VC who was still unknown to her called her phone again but she had never met the individual until the day of the incident when the VC exited a car while she was visiting some relatives  in Albouystown and tried to push her into a gutter.

She said that she held on to  Williams who is bigger in size in order to save herself from falling into the gutter.

Subsequently, she said, her charge stemmed from an incident in which the VC was approaching her while she had her nine-month-old daughter in her hand and she reacted by snatching a juice from a man and throwing  it on the VC in an attempt to protect her daughter from whatever the VC was planning to do.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne in reading the facts of the case stated that Gillian and Williams are known to each other and on the day in question at a little after midnight Gillian was at home when she got a call on her telephone and she accused Williams of making the call to her.

She then went to confront Williams and an argument ensued.

Williams denied the allegation and was assaulted by Gillian. Williams then reported the matter and Gillian was arrested and later charged with the present offence.

In delivering  her decision the magistrate stated that she believed the defendant was telling the truth.