Husband jailed for assaulting wife over refusal to have sex

Gavin Marshall, who assaulted his common-law wife after she refused him sex, was yesterday handed a one-year jail sentence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Marshall was also sentenced to one month in prison for behaving disorderly at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost.

Marshall, who had previously maintained his innocence when the assault charge was first read against him, yesterday changed his plea to guilty.

According to Prosecutor Jomo Nichols, who presented the police’s case, on January 20, at 02:15hrs, Marshall’s partner, Sheralica Bovell, was sleeping, when he touched her and requested sex. Nichols said the woman refused, explaining to Marshall that she was tired. Marshall became enraged and dealt the woman several slaps to her face, causing her to suffer injuries. The matter was later reported and Marshall arrested and charged.

Nichols further mentioned that Marshall, while in police custody, behaved disorderly, and though he was warned on several occasions, he continued. A police report on the charge stated that Marshall, at the East Ruimveldt Outpost, was making noise in a cell at the outpost. Nichols said the man, shouted in a loud tone of voice, due to frustration and even banged his head on the cell bars.

In respect of his changed plea, Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond subsequently sentenced Marshall.

Another man, Rawle Olliverre, recently received a similar sentence from Magistrate Chandan-Edmond after he too admitted to slapping his wife after she refused to have sex with him.