Man kicks woman in face after argument about food

A Corporate Area man will have to make compensation of $250,000, after he pleaded guilty to kicking a woman against a wall following an argument at a restaurant.

It was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday that the defendant, Martin Wilkie, went to a restaurant where the complainant works to purchase his lunch when he was told that the food was not ready. An argument started between them in which they hurled insults at each other.

"Me say to her weh she a do in yah? Yuh can cook? And she start cuss me back how me ugly and ting. Me say to the chef say me nah come back a him restaurant 'cause the way how she a gwan," Wilkie explained.

Thirty minutes later, Wilkie is said to have returned to the restaurant and purchased his lunch.

"Me did hungry, Your Honour, so me buy me food. But she still a badda badda me same way," the defendant shared with Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque. The court heard that the complainant was picking ackees and throwing the seeds outside, when one of them hit Wilkie. He then kicked the complainant in the face, causing her to hit a wall. She became unresponsive and had to receive medical attention.

"They say a hungry man is an angry man," the judge responded. Wilkie pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and unlawful wounding. The complainant informed the court that since the incident, she has constant headaches and was seeking $500,000 compensation.

"I may have to shave off a little from that amount," the senior jurist said, settling on half.

A first payment of $10,000 was made in court and Wilkie is to return to court on March 2 when additional sums are to be paid. He was made the subject of a fingerprint order.