The West Demerara pastor and his wife who were charged with assaulting one another had both of their charges dismissed after declining to give evidence against each other.
In their second appearance at court last Friday, Magistrate Ann McLennan dismissed the charges and ordered the couple to pay court costs of $2000 each.
Ramana Yankanah, a pastor of Lot 600 Belle West, West Bank Demerara had pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm and was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 by Magistrate Nyasha Williams-Hatmin in his first court appearance last month. His wife, Roshani Yankanah faced a similar charge and pleaded guilty but her plea was changed by the magistrate after she heard her explanation. She too was granted bail in a similar sum.
It was alleged that on December 17, 2010 at Belle West, Pastor Yankanah unlawfully assaulted his wife, Roshani so as to cause her actual bodily harm.
In giving details on Roshani’s case, Police Prosecutor, Sherwin Matthews, had said that at 10:30pm on the day in question, Pastor Yankanah placed his cellular phone on the table and after checking, discovered that it was missing. Matthews said that the pastor enquired from his wife where the phone was and they had an argument and Mrs. Yankanah allegedly picked up a hammer and dealt her husband several lashes. The matter was reported to the Wales Police Station and she was arrested and charged.
But in her explanation, Roshani said that that story was not accurate. She said that her husband had put down the phone and she did not know where.
It was later discovered that it was on the table covered with a towel. She said that the Pastor had got up and drank. That afternoon, she said, it was his niece’s birthday and he wanted to take her alone but she wanted the entire family to go. The couple has five children.
Eventually the entire family went to the party and as they were returning in the car, her husband hit her two times and at home, the argument continued.
“He drag me out ah meh bed and start hit me”, she had told the court.
“This is not the first time he hit me”, she added. She said that her husband made several accusations against her. According to the woman, the fight continued until 1 am, when Yankanah went to sleep.
At the Wales Magistrate’s Court last Friday, police prosecutor Anandpersaud Sukhoo told the court that the couple have since worked out their differences and did not wish to pursue the matter further. He said that they would not give evidence against each other. The magistrate then dismissed the charges.
