14-y-o beaten for having boyfriend

A 42-year-old man told the court that he beat his 14-year-old niece because he was told that she had run off with a man.

The man, who pleaded guilty to charges relating to assault occasioning bodily harm and malicious destruction of property, is set to be sentenced on June 28 at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

According to the complainant, on May 6, the accused used a piece of board to hit her on her arms, legs and across her back, causing her to suffer pain and swelling. The complainant's cell phone was also said to be damaged. The teen, accompanied by her mother, reported the matter to the police. In his defence, the accused told the court that he was forced to discipline her because he had reason to believe she was involved in 'adult' activities.

"She run away with a man and her mother say me must beat her when she come back and when she come home, me a talk to her and see a man a come out a tree," he said. He also told the court that he used a piece of stick to hit her, and not board as was mentioned in the complainant's statement. He also said that he was not aware that a cell phone had been destroyed.

Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague said the Mannings Hill, St Andrew, resident's sentence would be in the form of compensation to the complainant. Both the accused and his niece were ordered to be present in court on the next appearance date.