Weeping man blames alcohol for assault charge

A Corporate Area man who has been incarcerated for almost two weeks was moved to tears on Thursday when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

So emotional was the defendant, Tiveon Stevenson, that even Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell expressed sympathy.

"I don't normally feel sorry for people you know, but somehow, you make me start feel like I must sorry for yuh," the senior judge said.

Prosecutors shared that on November 3, at 11 p.m., Stevenson returned home and started banging on the grille. The complainant opened the grille, and Stevenson started to slap her in the face, causing bruising and swelling. The court heard that during the melee, the complainant bit Stevenson on the arm and hand. The police were contacted and Stevenson allegedly said at the station, "Me must murder yuh. Anytime dem let me out, me ago kill yuh and spend 35 years." He was subsequently charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threat and disorderly conduct.

"Tru she always a perplex me 'bout girl and other woman, me believe she have someone else," Stevenson explained, adding that he was intoxicated.

"I love her so much, she just keep on a frustrate me," he added, as he started to cry. The complainant said he is a good dad, but wanted him to get some help for his drinking. She also said it was the first time something like this ever happened, and expressed her desire to discontinue the matter.

"I see the teeth marks and you really go report the man? He's in custody and she's on the streets. You don't need the judge, we really need the canine police department here. So, you came here today to finish the matter so you can continue to bite him? " Burrell said.

Stevenson admitted that he has a drinking problem and the judge agreed that the couple needed counselling, with intervention for Stevenson's alcoholism.

"I have a feeling that you rough up the man. You are abusing each other and I think you both need couples' therapy. You rarely ever hear a woman say she frass, is a man say him frass. You need to be a lot gentler with him," the judge opined.

Stevenson was given two years probation and the prosecutors withdrew the charges of threat and disorderly conduct.