A man who admitted to physically abusing his partner was yesterday sentenced to three months in jail.
Orvain Cole pleaded guilty to assaulting Ayanna Bryan on December 20, at Albouystown, when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Police prosecutor Jairam Luckhai said that the couple has a child but Bryan removed from the premises they shared due to a previous misunderstanding. On the day of the incident, he said Bryan was speaking to her neighbour when she heard her child screaming. As a result, Luckhai noted, Bryan immediately left to find out why her child was screaming but to her surprise she was confronted by Cole, who ordered her to bring all of the child’s belonging out of her home. As the woman was about to enter her premises for the items, Luckhai said Cole dealt her several cuffs to her face.
When Magistrate Octave-Hamilton questioned Cole about his actions, he explained that he went to Bryan’s home to collect the child, since he does not like the environment in which they live. Cole said he pleaded with Bryan for her to return home with him but she said she wanted a few days to consider her decision. He further noted that she went into her home to collect their child’s clothing but when she handed the belongings to him, they “pulled and tugged at the bag.” He said, “While me and she de pulling and tugging de bag me hand hit she under she eye.”
After listening to Cole’s explanation, the magistrate informed him that she was going to impose a sentence, taking into consideration the fact that the woman had marks of violence on her body. The court was shown the medical of the injuries Bryan sustained. “If you are claiming that you was pulling and tugging, how come under the woman’s eye has the mark?” the magistrate asked, after the woman showed the court the area she sustained the “black and blue mark.”
Before the ruling was read, the man said that he loves his family dearly and pleaded for a second chance. The magistrate however told him that “I am giving you a reflection… you are sentenced to three months in prison and I order that both of you seek counselling thereafter.”
