Warring siblings ordered to stay apart

A judge has ordered a woman and her son to stay away from her sister who believes that her life is in danger.

Yesterday's order came following a revelation by Shanique Williams, who last week expressed fear for her life 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. Williams was left with 57 stitches.

"Your Honour, you see when I leave court last week, and a walk bout me business, here comes the babyfather, buck me round the corner. Your Honour, me not telling no lie. I am not comfortable, and at the end of the day, I don't see the reason they treat me like this," Williams said, referring to her sister and nephew who were standing in the prisoner's dock.

Williams is charged for wounding with intent while her sister, Kimone 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.

But Judge Venise Blackstock-Murray said that there is no basis to keep them in custody until the trial date at this time.

"What I can do and will do is to grant them bail with conditions and one of the conditions is that they are not to contact or interfere with you. If they do, they will be brought back into custody until the case is finished," she ruled.

When the matter was last heard in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, Williams argued that the matter can only be resolved if her relatives share the location of Valentine's father. But prosecutors told the judge that the police have been unsuccessful in trying to apprehend him.

The judge reasoned that it would not be fair to have Brown and Valentine in custody until the man is taken into police custody. Brown and Valentine were each offered $400,000 bail with at least three sureties. They are to report to the police once weekly and surrender their travel documents. A stop order was also imposed.

The matter was adjourned until September 29, when a trial is expected to begin. Williams had her bail extended until then. - T.T.