By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A magistrate yesterday discharged a man who assaulted his girlfriend for getting him sick during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marlon Curry was arrested after he attacked his girlfriend in a drunken rage after he woke up with a fever he believed he caught from her.
He admitted the offence during his arraignment before Magistrate Shaka Serville.
The court was told that the woman told police she was assaulted by her boyfriend at their residence on August 8. The prosecution said the woman claimed Curry, who appeared to be intoxicated, asked her: “You think I does play?” before choking her. The court was told Curry then attempted to punch his girlfriend, but she blocked the blow with her hand.
After she filed her complaint, the accused was arrested and taken to the East Street South Police Station, where he admitted the offence in an interview with police.
Yesterday, Curry was also accused of causing harm to his girlfriend’s daughter. However, he denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to trial.
When given an opportunity to speak, Curry told the magistrate the incident only happened because he was angry at his girlfriend because she “brought COVID home”. He said he was being extra cautious amid the pandemic because the virus “was not a joke”. However, on the day in question, he woke up with a “hot fever” which he felt he caught from his girlfriend who was not as careful. He insisted he was remorseful for his actions and said he regretted acting in the heat of the moment.
Curry’s girlfriend was also present during his arraignment. She told the magistrate she was “very sick” on the day she got into an altercation with Curry. She said during their “scuffle” her daughter tried to intervene and was accidentally struck. She also asked the magistrate to be lenient as she did not want to go through with the matter.
After listening to their explanations, Magistrate Serville told Curry even if he was upset, his emotions were not a “permission slip to act in a fashion that would result in assault.” However, he said he considered his early guilty pleas and the fact he accepted responsibility for his actions and granted him an absolute discharge.
After his case was dismissed, Curry was warned to refrain from his previous behaviour to avoid a similar incident taking place in the future.
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