Courts hears allegations that...Business exec abuses adopted child

Courts hears allegations that...

A popular business executive is now before the court after it is alleged that after her divorce she became aggressive and repeatedly abused her adopted child.

The woman, of a St Andrew address, was slapped with charges of cruelty to a child and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The accused woman, who is a known socalite, was arrested on November 18, however, she was granted bail on her first court appearance on November 25.

She appeared again in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's court last Friday, with her attorney Jacqueline Cummings-Brown. The prosecutor in the case informed Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey that the file was incomplete, and the accused was bound over to return to court on January 12.

According to police reports, the offences against the 15-year-old complainant were committed between the November 15 and 18.

Allegations against the accused are that since the divorce from her spouse, who is still a guardian for the complainant, she has been hostile towards the child who attends a Corporate Area high school.

The court also heard of an alleged incident that took place in January, where the complainant was pushed to the ground and kneeled on, receiving cuts and bruises.

Further allegations are that on November 5, the complainant expressed challenges in a particular subject in which she got a low grade.

The accused woman allegedly went to her daughter's school and beat her in the presence of teachers and other students, then, while walking to the car, used her high heel to hit the complainant.

A cell phone was also said to have been used to hit the complainant in her chest. She was also reported to have been slapped across her face during the onslaught, causing injury.

Police reports also indicate that the abuse went on much longer and occurred again during a meeting at the school in which a belt was used to hit the girl.

Reports are that a teacher and vice-principal had to step in and restrain the accused.

Following a report to CISOCA later that day, filed by the teen, claiming excess abuse, the accused was charged.