Man gets three-part sentence for assaulting his son’s mother

A Fairbane Pasture man, who caused the mother of his child to have breathing and swallowing problems was bonded, fined, and ordered to pay compensation after he grabbed her throat and squeezed her for about 20 seconds.

Mario Davis, 30, appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Tammika McKenzie on November 18, 2024 where he received the sentences on a charge of assault.

Davis pleaded guilty that on March 20, 2024 at Richmond Hill, he did assault Rhiana Harry of Calder Ridge causing actual bodily harm.

The facts are that Harry knows Davis well. They were in an intimate relationship which produced a boy child, who is now sixteen months old.

This relationship ended in February, 2024, and both parties are not on speaking terms. The court heard that around 1:15 p.m on the date in question, Harry was sitting on a wall at the Richmond Hill Bus Stop in the vicinity of the St Vincent Girls’ High School.

She was dressed in the uniform of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College waiting for a van to go to college. While going through her bag, she saw Davis standing to her right.

He was talking, but Harry paid him no mind. Davis went closer to Harry, stooped, and was still talking to her.

Harry then told Davis to move out of her face, which resulted in Davis grabbing her in the area of her throat with his hand, and squeezing her for approximately twenty seconds before letting go.

Two men who were in the area went to Harry’s assistance and Davis left the scene. Harry reported the matter to the police. An investigation was carried out into the matter and Davis was arrested. He was later charged with the offence of wounding.

Davis told the court that he is a self employed mechanic/body work/ technician who earns approximately $500 per week.

Harry told the court that her neck hurt for one week after the incident, and that she experienced difficulties breathing and swallowing.

She said that Davis is not providing for their son, and she had taken him to the Family Court in April, but he still does not provide financial support.

Harry also said that Davis never apologized to her over the incident, and that she filed a restraining order against him, but he keeps breaching it by texting her.

She asked that Davis compensate her $800. Davis told the Senior Magistrate that he did not want to go to prison because he has “changes to make to my life”, and that he wouldn’t be able to take care of his son if he is incarcerated.

He said that he wants the child to be part of his life, but he has issues having access to the child.

The Senior Magistrate ordered Davis to compensate Harry in the sum of $800 by December 9, 2024, in default of which he will spend one year in prison. He was bonded in the sum of $2,000 for one year, and he was fined $400, to be paid by December 20, 2024. In default, he will be imprisoned for six months.