A bus driver who used indecent language to his reputed wife was yesterday reprimanded and discharged by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Marsciná Scentoro accepted that on July 27 he used abusive language to Gillian Rodrigues, thereby resulting in a breach of the peace.
In his explanation to the court, Scentoro said that at the time of the incident, he had asked his reputed wife to pass him the key to their vehicle and she refused.
This, he said, annoyed him and he used a series of expletives to the woman.
He told the court that he operates a bus which plies the Lethem route. While at home on the day of the incident, Scentoro said, he was about to do some work on the vehicle when he asked Rodrigues for the key.
“After she refused to give me the key, I get vex and that is when I curse her,” he said.
The defendant said that there will not be a recurrence of his behaviour and apologised to the court.
“I promise that I wouldn’t do it again,” the father of two said.
The virtual complainant (VC) was not at court when the matter was called.
It was at this point that the court enquired from Scentoro if he and the VC were legally married or sharing a common-law relationship.
He responded, “no my worship, we are not married as yet.”
Magistrate Octive-Hamilton said she was impressed by the man’s response which indicated that he has intentions of marrying the VC. She said too that from all indications it would appear that the defendant loves and cares for his reputed wife.
Scentoro said that he and his reputed wife have been together for the past five years, a union which has produced two children.
When asked, he said that this was the first such incident that they have had and also it was their first time before the court.
The presiding magistrate said she could understand the defendant’s annoyance at not being given the key after requesting it.
“We are humans and I understand that at times we become annoyed and say things,” the magistrate said.
She, however, cautioned the defendant against what he had done, urging him to exercise greater temper control.
She also said that she will hold the defendant to his word that there will be no recurrence of his behaviour. The magistrate firmly told Scentoro to be of good behavior and warned him not to have to return to court again.
“Let this be the first and last time you’re in the court system. Don’t let me down,” the magistrate asserted, an undertaking Scentoro said he will uphold.
The magistrate then discharged the defendant.
Meanwhile, the prosecution’s case stated that the parties had an argument over a text message the VC saw on the defendant’s cell phone and she became annoyed.
It was during this argument, the prosecution said, that Scentoro began cursing Rodrigues.
