A 25 year old woman who hit a secondary school child about his face, scraped his neck, and damaged his school shirt for slapping her sister, was fined, ordered to pay compensation, and was placed on a bond.

Britney Williams of Paul’s Avenue appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 4, 2024 where she pleaded guilty that on February 28, 2024, at Stoney Grounds without lawful excuse she damaged one white school blouse with the logo ‘JPEMSS’ valued at EC$21.95; one long brown school pants valued at EC$75.95; and one white vest valued at EC$6.95; a total value EC$104.85, the property of Kenrick Samuel Jr of Campden Park, and was reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

Williams also pleaded guilty that on the same date and in the same place, she did assault Kenrick Samuel Jr of Campden Park causing actual bodily harm.

The facts are that Samuel is a fourth form student of the Dr. J.P Eustace Memorial Secondary School. On February 28 at about 1:00 p.m, Samuel was at school when he and another classmate of Campden Park got into an altercation.

The fight started because Samuel was standing in front of a classroom door and the female classmate came and pushed him. As a result, both students were taken to the principal’s office and were suspended for five days.

However, the classmate called her older sister and told her what had happened that resulted in her being suspended.

At about 3:25 p.m the same day, Samuel was at Massey Supermarket when an unknown female approached him, held onto his uniform and kept asking him the reason he had hit her sister.

Samuel replied, “Miss let go my shirt first,” but she refused. Williams continued pulling on Samuel’s uniform causing it to tear. She then hit Samuel three times in his face and scratched him on the left side of his neck.

Samuel went home and reported the matter to his parents. Samuel, accompanied by his parents, then reported the matter to the police at the Criminal Investigation Department.

PC 990 Pope recorded a written statement from him in the presence of his step-mother, Marlene Lewis and visited the scene.

Lewis later sent a video recording of the incident to the police. On Sunday March, 3, 2024 at about 1:10 p.m, Williams arrived at the station as requested by the police.

PC Pope informed her of reports of damage to property and assault bodily harm which was made against her. PC Pope later cautioned and interviewed her in the presence of PC 871 Lewis.

Williams volunteered a written statement and admitted to the offences. PC Pope subsequently charged her for the offences of assault bodily harm, and damage to property.

Senior Magistrate, Colin John asked Williams why she found it necessary to take matters into her own hands, even after the school had dealt with the situation.

The young woman replied that she did what she felt like she had to do within her responsibilities as the big sister. She also said when she asked the boy to give her a reason for hitting her sister, all he responded was to let go of his shirt.

The Senior Magistrate informed her that if she was not satisfied with how the school handled the matter, she could have reported the matter to the police instead of assaulting the child.

Williams responded that she was made aware of that during conversation with some police officers when she arrived at the police station.

The Senior Magistrate informed Williams that this was a serious offence, and ordered her to compensate the child for the clothes that she damaged in two weeks, or she will go to prison for three months.

For the assault offence, Williams was fined $300 to be paid in one month or spend three months in prison. She was also placed on a bond for one year in the sum of $500, with a three month sentence in default.