“Meh worship, me ent know is wah does happen to me, I get ah bad anger problem and like when I geh angry, I does lose self-control and something other than self does tek control.”
This is what a 37-year-old third offender who slapped his reputed wife because she decided to go to church rather than stay at home with him told Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson when he appeared before her yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Colin Miller, a minibus driver of 48 West Front Road, West Ruimveldt, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.
On October 11 at Georgetown, Miller assaulted Esther Grant so as to cause her actual bodily harm. The unrepresented Miller was subsequently sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
The defendant, who repeatedly begged the magistrate for mercy and said how sorry he was for what he had done, explained that on the day in question he was very sick and so he wanted Grant to stay at home with him. Grant said, however, that he was not sick and stressed that it was important for her to be at church so that “she can praise her God.”
The defendant told the court that after his reputed wife decided against his will that she was going to church, he became angry and he “lashed out” at her, slapping her with the palm of his hands.
Miller told the court that he was not using his anger problem as a justification for slapping the VC but in an apologetic tone he reiterated that he really has a problem and wants help for the way he deals with his anger issues.
He went on to say that whenever he becomes angry he feels something “like a force” inside of him taking over.
The virtual complainant explained to the court that it is not the first time that she was being battered by the defendant.
She added that he did not slap her with the palm of his hand as he had said but rather he broadsided her with a cutlass, causing her to suffer an injury in the lower region of her left eye.
The prosecution told the court that this matter marks the third time the defendant is being taken to court by the VC for such an offence. Additionally, the prosecution said that the man had been placed on a bond to keep the peace for two years but he had broken the bond.
