A man accused of unlawfully assaulting his reputed wife was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $10,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
After furnishing the court with an address other than that which he shares with his common-law wife, he was granted his pretrial liberty.
The allegation against Justlin Decem-ber is that on June 6 at the Mabaruma Police Station, North West District, he unlawfully assaulted Sabrina Phillips.
The 44-year-old farmer denied the common assault charge when it was read to him by the magistrate.
The virtual complainant said that the present incident is the second one the man has committed against her in the five years she has been living with him, adding that she has known him for 21 years.
Attorney Adrian Thompson who represented the accused said that the virtual complainant did not wish to proceed with the matter against his client.
The presiding magistrate, however, firmly asserted that she was not going to take that risk and promptly advised the parties to seek professional help owing to the seriousness of the offence and its prevalence in society today.
The court then informed the defendant that he needed to relocate to an alternative address while the matter is being determined; during which time the two are to have no interference with each other.
December then provided his brother’s 57 Pere Street, Kitty address as his alternative place of abode.
In an application for reasonable bail, counsel said that his client is a father of five and has no previous convictions.
The matter was transferred to the Mabaruma Magistrates’ Court for August 21.
