Family squabble leaves woman with 57 stitches

A Corporate Area woman said that she is living in fear, after she was allegedly attacked, beaten and stabbed by her sister, her nephew and her sister's babyfather, following a dispute at the family's home.

The woman, who received numerous stitches, is seeking compensation for her injuries through the courts. Shanique Williams told the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that her nephew beat her in the head and on the hand with an object, while her sister attacked her with a pair of scissors.

"I tussle with her, take the scissors and stab her. When I stab her Your Honour, I get locked up the Monday and I call my co-worker to bail me. By the Wednesday, I press back charges, my sister babyfather come chop me, leave me with 57 stitches, just because me lock her up. Your Honour, dem as my family, me talking from my heart, dem bring me down to the ground," she told the court.

The matter with Williams is a cross case with her sister Kimone Brown. Williams is charged for wounding with intent while Brown faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an incident on May 7. Rushane Valentine, Brown's son, is also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

Williams stressed further that she does not want to have the matter mediated.

"Your Honour, I am begging. Them need fi get her babyfather 'cause that's the only way it a guh done and dem affi give me the maintenance money for the two months that I wasn't working," Williams told the court.

"My life is threatened," Williams added.

Presiding Parish Judge Venise Blackstock-Murray indicated that mediation would not be a solution at the moment as Valentine and Brown are currently in custody.

Prosecutors shared that Brown was on bail for a previous charge for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery with aggravation and being in possession of an offensive weapon, while Valentine was on bail for a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

As a result of the altercation with Williams, their bails were revoked. The judge adjourned the matter until July 5 for investigators to complete the file. Brown and Valentine were remanded.

- T.T.