Brother punches sister over remittance money

Siblings were encouraged by a senior parish judge to mend their broken relationship, following their dispute over spoils from PS20 (approximately $3,800) that was sent through a remittance company.

"Unnu mash up unnu relationship over PS20. I don't understand how good good brother just get up and tump sister inna face. I hope unnu hurry up and make up back because the money nuh worth it. The relationship worth more than PS20," expressed Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell.

It was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday that the defendant, Claude McCarthy, was the intended receiver of the money, however, he asked his sister, the complainant, to collect the funds, as he did not have any form of valid identification. McCarthy and the complainant agreed that she was to take $500 from the collected sums as payment. It was shared in court that after the funds were collected, there was an altercation between the siblings over $1,500 that McCarthy said he did not receive.

The complaint contends that McCarthy punched her in the face, causing bruising and swelling of her lip. A mediation agreement shared in court states that McCarthy is expected to make payment of $100,000 for the injuries his sister sustained. Monies were already paid outside of court to the complainant and McCarthy paid an additional $25,000 in court.

The matter was then dismissed by the prosecutor, who offered no evidence against McCarthy, pursuant to the mediation agreement. The defendant was discharged of assault occasioning actual bodily harm charges.