Man beats babymother with board during argument

A St James man, who reportedly struck his babymother in the head with a piece of board during a fight over her daughter in 2023, is booked to stand trial in the St James Parish Court on May 8.

Bruce Clarke, who is charged with unlawful wounding, was given the trial date and had his bail extended when he appeared before presiding parish judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton on Thursday. The court was told that on June 15, 2023, the complainant was on Love Lane, in Montego Bay, when she received word that her daughter was involved in a brawl with Clarke and a female bartender.

The complainant went to the location, where she confronted Clarke. He reportedly used a piece of board to hit the complainant twice in her head, causing a wound that bled. A fight ensued, during which the complainant was struck with a chair, resulting in further injuries. After the allegations were outlined, the complainant vehemently refused Judge Fairclough-Hylton's offer of mediation to settle her differences with Clarke.

"All of this is coming from a case with me and him, and that is what led up to this," the complainant explained.

"There is a time and place for everything, and you see the courtroom is packed. It is not everything you say in public ... I am only saying that because I am trying to protect your child," said Judge Fairclough-Hylton.

"My child was not protected, because he walked," the complainant replied.

"That is a different matter. You don't want to say all of that in front of strangers. That is a different case, and you can't mix the two of them together," the judge advised the woman.

"I want to go to trial, ma'am. I need justice, ma'am," the aggrieved mother stated.

Clarke's lawyer, Dalton Reid, requested disclosure of documents to prepare a defence for his client. The matter was subsequently set for trial on May 8. Clarke had his bail extended to that date.