Keisha Burke, the 20-year-old woman who dealt a policewoman several punches to the face, was yesterday ordered to serve a 14-day prison sentence for the crime after she opted to accept responsibility at the commencement of her trial.
Burke appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess in Georgetown yesterday for the slated commencement of her trial and immediately indicated to him that she would like to plead guilty to the six offences she was charged with.
It was alleged that on May 13th, 2019, at East La Penitence, Burke unlawfully assaulted Police Sergeant Odecia Johnson, who was acting in the execution of her duty, and that on the same date and at the same location, Burke also damaged a pair of spectacles valued $40,000, belonging to Johnson.
It was also alleged that on May 13th, at East La Penitence, Burke unlawfully assaulted Johnson, causing actual bodily harm, and on the same date and at the same location, she resisted Johnson, who was acting in the execution of her duty.
The final two charges stated that on May 13th, at East La Penitence, Burke, within public hearing, made use of indecent language, and on the same date and at that location, she behaved in a disorderly manner. After Burke’s guilty plea, the magistrate sentenced her to 14 days in prison for unlawfully assaulting Johnson, causing her actual body harm. For the remaining charges, she was ordered to pay a total fine of $50,000.
According to the police, on the day in question, around 8.30 am, Johnson noticed a woman, Burke, standing in the East La Penitence Police Station compound. Johnson then instructed Constable Harris to ask Burke if she had been attended to and if she had no business in the compound, to ask her to leave the premises.
After being asked to leave the compound, Burke began shouting indecent words and unwillingly left the compound but continued creating a scene. Johnson then approached her and warned her and as she was attempting to arrest her, Burke dealt her several punches to her face, causing her spectacles to break.
Burke stated that she was at the police station concerning another matter and was told to wait outside by a police officer who was at the front desk. She said that Johnson later approached her in an unpleasant manner, and shoved her, causing her to become angry.
