By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE officer testified in court yesterday how he noticed injuries on a woman who alleged she was hit in the face by her child’s father.
Officer John Spence’s testimony came during the trial of 28-year-old Wadlet Meris, who is accused of causing harm to his child’s mother on August 23.
He is further accused of assaulting another woman on the same day. However, Meris denied the charges during his first appearance before Magistrate Shaka Serville.
During yesterday’s trial, Officer Spence, who is attached to the Central Police Station, told the court that on August 28, he recorded a complaint from a woman in reference to causing harm.
Asked yesterday if he had seen any injuries on the woman, the officer replied he observed injuries to her left eye, which he said was swollen.
He also testified that about two or three days later, he arrested Meris as a result of the complaint.
During cross-examination, the defendant’s attorney Glenda Roker asked if he recalled only seeing injuries on Rolle’s eye.
In response, the witness said he couldn’t recall but told the court he remembered receiving pictures detailing all the injuries.
When asked how he determined Rolle was punched in the left eye, Spence said it could have occurred by other means.
Also giving testimony yesterday was police officer Mico Johnson, who spoke about his role in interviewing the defendant.
Officer Johnson said during the interview, the accused denied the offences, claiming it was the women who fought him during the time of the incident.
During cross-examination, Ms Roker asked the witness if he recalled Meris reporting to police that his child’s mother had threatened him.
To which he replied: “Yes.”
He also said he remembered Meris telling the police his child’s mother had initiated the argument.
Ms Roker also asked why it took a week for police to question him after the incident allegedly took place.
Officer Johnson said he was not present when the defendant was arrested nor when the complaint was made.
When asked if the defendant was co-operative, Officer Johnson replied that he was.
At the end of yesterday’s hearing, Ms Roker asked the magistrate for a final adjournment concerning the assault charge, noting no evidence had yet been given in relation to the offence.
Magistrate Serville agreed and the matter was adjourned to May 24, 2022 for a continuation of the trial.
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