Selector avoids criminal record after wounding woman

A St James man who reportedly punched a woman and cut her on her neck during a confrontation was let off with a stern warning when he appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Gary Gordon, a music selector, was before the court on charges of unlawful wounding and issuing of a threat, to which he pleaded not guilty. The court was told that on January 19, Gordon and the complainant had an altercation along the popular Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, during which Gordon hit the woman in her face and stomach and cut her on the neck with his fingernail.

The police were summoned, and under caution, Gordon reportedly said, "Officer, mek she play the voice note that she send me about how she a go pay gunman fi kill me. You going haffi talk to her, because she not taking my calls." He was subsequently arrested and charged. After the circumstances were outlined, the clerk of the court indicated that the complainant was willing to sit with a trained mediator to resolve the dispute. The matter was briefly stood down to facilitate the mediation session.

When the case was called up a short time later, it was disclosed to presiding judge Diahann Bernard that Gordon had agreed to financially compensate the complainant for her injuries. As a result, a no-evidence motion was entered by the prosecution to dismiss the matter.

"Pay her the money you promised, and let bygones be bygones," Judge Bernard instructed Gordon.

"She is supposed to give me some money also," Gordon responded.

"Be the bigger person. Let it go, because you are alive, and at the end of it you won't have a criminal record," the judge advised him. "I am sending you off with a stern warning, Mr Gordon. Stay out of trouble, I don't want to see you back here for any reason at all."