Miner jailed for 2 years for assault on common-law wife

A man who was previously sentenced to serve six years in jail for possession of drugs and ammunition, will spend another 2 years incarcerated, this time for fracturing the arm of  his common-law wife.

Oswald Evans, 38, of Lot 6 Richmond Ville, Mon Repos, yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer the charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm.

It was alleged that on August 18, at Falls Creek, North West District, he assaulted his common-law wife Shanti Carter with a piece of wood. He pleaded guilty.

Police Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru told the court that Carter was employed at a mining camp as a cook. She was cooking when Evans came from the backdam and reviewed the calls on her phone, the prosecutor said. He added that the man noticed two unanswered calls from a blocked number.

Evans reportedly enquired about the calls, but the virtual complainant told him she did not know who had called.

Mangru said the man left and went to a nearby rum shop where he consumed alcohol. He then went back to the camp and demanded that the VC go with him for a walk, the court was told and at his insistence she went.

Mangru said that while on the walk, Evans picked up a piece of wood and dealt the VC seven lashes; she blocked the last one with her arm and it was fractured in the process.

The father of three was then asked by Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry if he had anything to say. He then told the court that “the boss lady has a shop and she want my wife to entertain the customers at the shop and she has a set of man calling she, Your Worship.”

Citing the seriousness and the prevalence of the offence, Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced Evans to 2 years imprisonment.