Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday ordered that a 52-year-old man pay court costs of $10,000 and placed him on a bond to keep the peace for one year after his reputed wife, whom he had beaten with a cutlass and thrown pepper sauce on, stated that she did not want to give evidence against him.
Roy Alli of Lot 6 Barr Street, Albouystown, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.
He admitted that on February 15 at his Albouystown home, he unlawfully assaulted Turamatie.
Turamatie, who was also in court, stated that she did not wish to give evidence against Alli in the matter.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford then informed the court that Alli and Turamatie had lived together and shared a common-law relationship for over 30 years. He said that during this period Turamatie was subjected to both verbal and physical abuse at the hands of Alli whenever he was drunk.
He said that on the day of the incident, Alli went home drunk and was attempting to light a kerosene oil stove when Turamatie attempted to stop him because of his condition.
He then became annoyed and picked up a cutlass which he used to deal her several blows to her body and mouth.
The prosecutor stated that Alli also picked up a bottle of pepper sauce and threw its contents on Turamatie.
Turamatie later made a report of the incident to the police station and Alli was arrested and later charged.
The magistrate ordered that Turamtie enter the witness box to give her statements under oath. The magistrate then asked her if she was forced or threatened to dissolve the matter this way and Turamatie replied that she was not.
Prosecutor Telford then interjected, “this is a clear case of domestic violence.”
He asked that the magistrate take note of an article in yesterday’s Stabroek News relating to violence against women and its increase in the society.
He said that magistrates and the police are being blamed for this increase in violence since a Human Rights report on Guyana “is saying that we are taking bribes”.
He said that “as an officer of the court I do not agree with that since the Commissioner of Police has declared a zero tolerance approach to domestic violence.”
The prosecutor added, “it is the victims themselves who come to the court after their spouses or partners are charged for violence against them and tell the magistrate that they do not want to continue with the case as is clearly seen in this case.”
He said the Human Rights body should visit the courts to see what is really happening in matters of this nature.
The magistrate then placed Alli on the peace bond and ordered that he pay the court cost.
