In perhaps the most high-profile domestic violence (DV) case prosecuted to date, the husband of a city magistrate was on Tuesday last found guilty of assaulting and threatening her and sentenced to four months imprisonment.
When Aboo McGusty made his second appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday, he pleaded for leniency.
During his first appearance last week before the same magistrate, McGusty had pleaded not guilty to two charges.
According to the charges, on December 9 at John Street, Werk-en-Rust, he used threatening language and assaulted his wife.
On Tuesday, McGusty also expressed remorse for what he had done. He said he dreaded what had happened between him and his wife and saddened by the embarrassment he has caused his family and himself.
“In my wife’s absence, I sincerely apologise to her. I will get my act together and will never behave the way I did, ever again,” McGusty said.
Attorney Latchmi Rahamat, who represented, McGusty, a 38-year-old contractor, said he has been married to the magistrate for the past 19 years and had never been charged and placed before the court for threatening and abusing his wife.
Rahamat further stated that her client was intoxicated when he got into an argument with his wife and asked the court to be lenient with him since he had shown great remorse for his actions. She asked that the effect the alcohol had on him be taken into consideration.
She further pleaded for a non-custodial sentence and said that her client would not return to the house he shares with his wife and four children, but rather will move to his sister’s home at Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
She added that McGusty was willing to attend counselling sessions, since he admitted to having an alcohol problem. Rahamat also informed the court that McGusty’s minor children were asking for their father.
After listening to Rahamat, Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry said that the matter was a domestic violence one and the court wishes to send a strong message because of its nature.
She said that McGusty is an adult, adding that she is sure he knows the consequences of alcohol consumption. She said McGusty has a history of violence towards his wife and that during the particular incident for which he was charged he had hit his wife to the left temple and threatened to kill her in the presence of their children.
Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry added that McGusty threatened to drive his wife’s vehicle to the seawall and light it afire.
He was subsequently sentenced to four months’ imprisonment on each charge, which will run concurrently. Rahamat told the court that she intends to appeal.
Meanwhile observers have said that the McGusty case could only redound to the benefit of the fight against the DV scourge.
