Man charged with assaulting teacher

WESTERN BUREAU:A St James man who allegedly boxed a female teacher during a quarrel is to return to the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on June 12, when the prosecution's case file is expected to be completed.

Orville Samuels of a Montego Bay address is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, committed against Tanisha Cleghorn earlier this month. The details of the allegations were not outlined when Samuels appeared in court on Tuesday.

"How is it that you came to know him, ma'am?" Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai asked Cleghorn, when the matter was called up for mention.

"I met him, unfortunately, when he boxed me in my face. I did not know him before then," Cleghorn said.

Attorney-at-law Martyn Thomas, who represented Samuels, said that the assault on Cleghorn was unintentional.

"Mr Samuels says he didn't mean to do it. There was a fight involving his babymother, he got involved, and his hand caught the complainant," said Thomas.

"That is a lie. The statement Mr Samuels gave is a lie," Cleghorn rebutted sharply.

The complainant also refused the offer of mediation with Samuels, when RM Tai suggested it to her.

"Do you know what mediation is? Has anyone sat down with you to canvass mediation?" asked RM Tai.

"I know what mediation is, but I am not interested in it," Cleghorn said, flatly.

The prosecution told the court that its case file against Samuels was not complete, and requested additional time to complete the file. The matter was subsequently set for mention on June 12.