By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 23-year-old man who assaulted his former girlfriend during an argument was yesterday ordered to compensate her for her injuries.
The man – whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of his former partner –- was arrested after the woman told police he “caused one of her teeth to fall out” when they got into a physical altercation on February 27.
He pleaded guilty to one count of assault when he appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.
The court was told that a few days after the incident took place, the complainant told police she was at the accused’s residence when messages came to her phone that he happened to see. The prosecution said the messages made the accused angry so he began to beat her about the body which “caused one of her teeth to come out”.
After the woman filed a complaint, the accused was arrested. When he was questioned in police custody, he admitted to grabbing the woman during the argument.
Yesterday, he told the magistrate he did not hit his ex-girlfriend in the mouth. Instead, he claimed, her tooth fell out after he “turned her face”. He also said the incident only happened because he was “angry and frustrated.” He insisted that he was sorry for his actions.
In response, Magistrate Swain told the accused he should not be hitting a woman. She also said she was not convinced the accused was truly remorseful for his actions. As a result she fined him $500 or three months in prison for the offence.
Magistrate Swain also ordered the man to compensate his ex-girlfriend $2,000 for her injuries. She said if he didn’t, he could risk spending an additional 30 days in prison.
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