Woman fined after declining to testify in assault case

Magistrate Sunil Scarce yesterday fined an Essequibo Coast woman $3,000 for wasting the court’s time after she again declined to give evidence against her husband who had been charged with domestic assault.

The Suddie Magistrate’s Court heard that on February 15, Kumar Singh assaulted Hemwanttie Singh. The matter was reported at the Suddie Police Station and the accused was later arrested and charged.

When the matter was called in court, Hemwanttie asked the magistrate to dismiss the charges against her husband because she felt sorry for him.

Magistrate Scarce then pointed out to her that she had previously asked the court to dismiss charges against her husband because she felt sorry for him and warned her that if she appears in court on another occasion for complaints about assault she will have to give evidence.

He then imposed the fine.