By KEILE CAMPELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A 21-YEAR-OLD man who punched a young woman twice after she told him it should have been his daughter who died instead of his friend was ordered yesterday to complete 150 hours of community service and six months of anger management.
Timothy Saunders, of Flamingo Drive, appeared before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly on two counts of assault from separate incidents in January and July this year.
The court heard that Saunders assaulted Navea Williams on July 25 during an argument over a photograph he had posted of a friend who had died. During the dispute, Ms Williams told Saunders that it should have been his daughter who died instead, prompting him to punch her twice.
Ms Williams’ mother, Lakeisha Williams, called police around 7.50pm after her daughter phoned to say she had been beaten about the body. Police took Saunders into custody on October 19.
Saunders admitted the assault, telling the court he had been upset by the remark and had tried to apologise afterwards.
Prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom asked whether Saunders had an anger problem. Senior Magistrate Kelly warned him that his conduct could eventually land him in prison, noting that two assault complaints had been brought against him in the same year.
The second charge involved his daughter's mother, Cheline Saifaite, and stemmed from an incident on January 12. Saunders admitted pushing Ms Saifaite, who told the court the two were no longer in a relationship.
Ms Saifaite said she wished to withdraw her complaint and insisted she had not been forced or pressured into doing so. Saunders was acquitted and discharged on that count.
For the assault on Ms Williams, Senior Magistrate Kelly conditionally discharged Saunders and ordered him to complete community service and anger management. He was also fined $500 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) in default.
Saunders, who works at sea, must return to court on November 5 with proof of his enrolment in both programmes. He is due back on December 14 for a progress report on his community service, and on April 23, 2027, for the court to determine whether he has completed anger management.
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