Samwattie Arjune, the woman who was allegedly hit in the head with a rolling pin by her reputed husband Deninauth Maiko, yesterday requested a dismissal of the charge when the case was once again brought before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
When the magistrate asked the parties which of them “really wanted the matter to be dismissed,” the woman appeared dazed, but was immediately prompted by her reputed husband’s gesticulation to answer the court.
Standing in the prisoners’ dock at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, the accused was heard saying: “Is she, is she,” [the virtual complainant VC], who wanted the matter to come to an end.
After his prompting to respond to the court, the VC then asserted that it was she who wanted the matter to be dismissed.
Among her reasons for wanting to drop the charge against the accused, she stated that the defendant is the sole breadwinner of the household and they have five children.
She added that they live in a rented apartment and the rent is paid by the defendant.
The presiding magistrate at this point informed the parties that they have to undergo counseling sessions, “and then and only then will I dismiss it [the matter], because it is a cycle of abuse.” The matter will be called again on July 20.
The allegation against Maiko is that on June 20 at West Ruimveldt he inflicted grievous bodily harm on Arjune.
The accused denied the charge when it was read to him at his initial court appearance on June 21.
The prosecution’s facts are that on the day in question, the two had a misunderstanding over a lost pigeon and the accused subsequently lashed his wife with the rolling pin in her head.
The court was told that the complainant sent her son to look for the bird and he later returned saying that he could not find it.
According to the prosecutor, this report angered the defendant who then armed himself with the rolling pin with which he dealt the woman a lash to her head.
