Woman stones neighbour in fire dispute

A 57-year-old woman admitted to hitting her neighbour, following an argument about a fire being lit in the community.

Marie Campbell is to be sentenced next month for unlawful wounding, after pleading guilty to the offence in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday. The court heard that on April 13, there was a fire in the community and the complainant left his home, trying to find out who started it. Campbell was at the scene of the fire and an argument ensued between herself and the complainant. It was reported that Campbell threw a branch at the complainant, who then threw a bottle at Campbell. Campbell, who sells recycled plastic bottles for a living, then threw a stone at the complainant, which hit him on the mouth, causing a wound which bled.

"Yea, a me light the fire over the open land in the community because nobody nah clean up over deh. Me and a next man a clean it up and him [the complainant] just come with eight bottle full a pee-pee [urine] and throw it over there," Campbell said.

"So how you know is pee?" judge Burrell questioned.

"Your Honour, is pee-pee. One of the bottle dem did open and me smell it. When sun catch it, the scent rise and is pee-pee," the defendant responded.

The judge suggested that the matter be referred to mediation; however, the complainant expressed that he was not interested in that alternative approach.

"I want it dealt with at the court," the complainant said, adding that he received stitches for his injuries and had to be absent from work.

"I couldn't eat for how much days," he added.

The matter was then adjourned until June 19, when Campbell is to be sentenced.