Party brawlers to stand trial

Two women from central Kingston are expected to stand trial next February, following allegations that they were seen by police officers fighting at a party.

In a caution statement collected from Brittania Barrette, the fight is alleged to be over a man from their community.

"A my man dem a fight over and a deeven my man alone," Barrette's caution statement read. The Crown's case, as outlined by prosecutors in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday, states that at 1:45 a.m., on a date in October, police on patrol saw Barrette, Delhema Nish, Kayanna Rhoden and other women fighting.

The investigating officer's statement said one of the women was seen with a glass bottle and another was armed with a ratchet knife. However, the statement did not identify the women. Barrette and Nish pleaded not guilty to affray and resisting arrest, while Rhoden admitted to the charges. Rhoden explained that she was at the party and was attempting to dance with another woman, when the altercation started.

"Me inna the party, and me say me ago dance with the girl and as me go over to her, she bounce me," Rhoden said.

"Probably it was a dance move," Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell quipped.

"No Your Honour, it wasn't that type of bounce. She bounced me," Rhoden maintained. She shared further that thereafter, other women confronted her, and even hit her in the face.

Prosecutors shared Rhoden's caution statement, which the judge cited as self-defence.

"A dem start fight me, so me affi fight dem back," Rhoden allegedly said.

Rhoden was discharged from the court while Barrette and Nish are to return to court on February 21, 2025. They were both made subjects of fingerprint orders.

- T.T.