Fitzroy Gibson, who is accused of abusing and threatening his mother-in-law, was yesterday remanded to prison by city magistrate Faith McGusty.
Gibson, of Pike Street, Kitty, was charged with using abusive and threatening language towards Shirley Baptiste at Laing Avenue on February 16 and behaving in a disorderly manner at the West Ruimveldt Police Outpost on the same day. According to the police’s case against Gibson, the accused is in the habit of interfering with Baptiste by threatening and assaulting her. Baptiste is an amputee and only has one leg. It is alleged that after Gibson was arrested for verbally abusing and threatening the women, he was taken to the police outpost, where he used a series of expletives.
When permitted to give his account of the events, Gibson stated that on the said day he and his partner, Baptiste’s daughter, had an argument.
Police had been passing at the time that they were arguing, he said, and arrested both of them. He added that it was after he was taken to the station that he was made aware of the abusive and threatening language charges levelled against him by Baptiste. His story was supported by his partner, who, when called upon by the defendant, expressed her confusion about the charges against him.
Baptiste’s sister, however, supported the claim of continual abuse of her sister by the defendant, while adding that her niece does not know what takes place. The women said she is often the one to render aid to her sister.
In light of all that was said, Magistrate McGusty remanded Gibson to prison and adjourned the matter to March 15.
