Judge denies complainant’s request to drop case in which daughter beaten with cable wire
KINGSTON, Jamaica— A complainant whose daughter was allegedly beaten with a cable wire over homework had her request to drop the case denied when she returned to the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.
Allegations are that the accused, Marlon Gilette, who is the uncle of the then 10-year-old girl, beat his niece with the cable wire to do her homework. The beating reportedly resulted in trauma to the girl’s right ear and swelling to her lower back.
A report was made and Gilette was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and cruelty to a child.
On Tuesday, however, the girl’s mother petitioned Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell to have the charges dropped as the accused is the one helping her with her three children.
Senior Judge Burrell denied the request stating that she believes that dropping the case would send the wrong message to the child and the family, while calling the act cruel.
Instead, Burrell referred the complainant to the Victim Services Division and the accused to probation services to receive counselling.
“I need you to understand that what you did, allegedly, is not okay,” Senior Parish Judge Burrell told Gilette.
Then turning to the complainant she said: “And you mother I need you to know that it is not okay to let it go.”
The judge further inquired if the complainant was on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) to which she responded no.
“Get on PATH and don’t hold yourself to the mercy of another man,” Judge Burrell advised.
Gilette’s bail was extended and the matter set for mention on July 23, 2024.