Magistrate Alex Moore at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court on Friday granted a restraining order against a Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) Officer, ordering him not to make contact with his ex-partner for two years after he allegedly threatened to kill the woman on two occasions.
Cortdell Harper, 32, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, appeared via Zoom before Magistrate Moore when the order was granted and which states that he should remain 50 feet away from the woman at all times and make no contact with her.
According to information gathered, Harper’s ex-partner alleged that the man while in Berbice earlier this month threatened to kill her for ending the relationship. She also alleged that on another occasion this month he threatened to crash into her car.
The woman then decided to report the matter. However, after the criminal complaint was taking some time and being scared for her life she decided to take the route of Civil Action and approach the court directly.
Based on information gathered from a Prosecutor, generally if a person is threatened arising from a domestic situation they have two options: Civil Action under the Domestic Violence (DV) Act or Criminal.
As such following the Civil Action (DV), Magistrate Moore granted the restraining order.
Meanwhile, the woman was reportedly advised to drop the criminal complaint. Stabroek News was told that DV orders are more expansive. As such in a situation where the court deals with the DV order and covers the issues which might subsequently come up in the criminal matter, advice is given to drop the criminal matter so as to avoid a duplication of the process.
