Three weeks after a St. Agnes Primary School teacher and three parents were charged with assaulting each other at the school, the charges against the former have been withdrawn.
The teacher, Tiffani Hinds, was charged with assaulting and provoking Soyini Gardner on January 15th, 2020, at St Agnes Primary School, at Church and Thomas streets.
The parents were charged with assault, damage to property, wounding and provoking a breach of peace on the same day at the school. Sherwin Dalrymple was charged with assaulting Hinds and provoking her with intent to insult or annoy her.
Kendace Peters was charged with maliciously damaging a dress, valued $6,500, which was the property of Hinds. Peters was also charged with unlawfully and maliciously assaulting Hinds. Soyini Gardner was also slapped with a charge which stated that on the same day and at the same location, she unlawfully assaulted Hinds so as to cause her actual bodily harm. It was further alleged that she unlawfully and maliciously damaged one single acrylic denture, valued $12,000, which was the property of Hinds. They were all released on bail on their first court appearance.
When the matter was called yesterday before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, the prosecutor told the court that based on advice from the DPP, the charges against the teacher were being withdrawn. However, the prosecution of Dalrymple, Peters and Gardner will commence next month.
According to Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris, on the day in question, the angry parents went to the school to meet with another parent. This was after two children were involved in a fight and one had to be rushed to a private city hospital. The court heard that the parents of the injured child went to the school to meet with the parent of the other to see how they could be assisted in paying the child’s medical bill. However, while at the school, Dalrymple, Peters and Gardner accused the teacher of taking sides and they then allegedly attacked her.
Additionally, the prosecutor told the court that there is a video being circulated on social media, where Dalrymple could be seen continuously kicking the teacher while she was on the floor. The video also showed Peters and Gardner assaulting the teacher while two children dressed in uniform watch.
