A nurse accused of cuffing a conductress to her chest because she allegedly refused to pay an increased bus fare was yesterday sent on her own recognizance when she appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
The allegation against Marcilla Sancho is that on March 30 at Georgetown, she unlawfully assaulted Bibi Alli.
The nurse denied the assault charge when it was read to her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The woman’s attorney Satyesh Kissoon said that it was his client who was assaulted by the conductress of the minibus in which she was travelling.
According to Kissoon, the virtual complainant (VC) insisted that his client pay $80 instead of $60 and also abused her.
The lawyer went on to say that according to his instructions, the VC began to abuse the other passengers in the bus as well, telling them that the fare had gone up from $60 to $80 and they must pay the new charge.
In relating the prosecution’s facts of the case, however, Police Corporal Venetta Pindar told the court that the VC had informed the passengers of the increased fare before the bus departed the park.
Though being made aware of this by the conductress, Pindar said that the accused still entered the bus. When she arrived at her New Market and Thomas streets destination she disembarked the vehicle and handed the woman $60, refusing to give the $20 extra.
The corporal told the court that at this point the defendant punched the complainant to her stomach. A medical for the VC was produced in court.
“She punch me three times to my chest,” said Alli who was in court.
After listening to the case, the presiding magistrate admitted the nurse to self-bail and the prosecution raised no objection to this.
The matter was transferred to Court Two for April 18 for reports and fixtures for trial.
