Labourer says he’s the victim after denying abusing wife

Wesley Duncan, accused of verbally abusing his wife because she stays out late at nights, was placed on self-bail on Monday after telling a court that he was the one on the receiving end of the ‘tongue-lashing.’

Duncan, a labourer, was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday charged with using abusive language to his wife on July 14.

But while Duncan initially pleaded guilty, he maintained that he never abused his wife, Roxanne Duncan, and the magistrate recorded a not guilty plea instead.

The man told the court that his wife always drinks and smokes and uses abusive language to him.

He said on the night of the altercation, “I spoke to her about it and she started abusing me and turned and said ‘Woman run things’ and walked out.”

The next day, Duncan added, his wife returned to their home with the police.

She was not present at the hearing on Monday.

No additional details of what transpired on the day in question were related to the court by Prosecutor Bharat Mangru.

The matter is set to continue on August 5 at Court 10.