Labourer fined, deported for beating, stabbing girlfriend

On Monday, Romane Antonio Burton, a 27-year-old labourer, had pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Tashaya Smith on April 4 and returned for sentencing yesterday in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court No. 2 after being remanded to Dodds Prison.

Acting Magistrate Bernadeth John fined him $3 000 for assaulting the woman and ordered him to pay $1 500 in compensation to her. Both were payable forthwith and came with the alternative of six months in jail. The money was paid and immediately after, Burton was led out of court by immigration officials.

Prosecutor Sergeant Kenmore Phillips had stated that Burton, of Pine Plantation Road, St Michael, and Smith, were a couple for more than a year.

They worked at the same worksite and shared an apartment.

However, Smith claimed that Burton resorted to either physical or verbal abuse whenever he saw her talk to any of her male counterparts at work.

Immigration records showed that while Burton was here legally, he did not have a work permit.

On April 4, as soon as she reached inside their apartment, he began hitting

her in the mouth. When she raised her arms to block the blows, he punched her about the head and hands.

She escaped by jumping through a window, and as her landlord tried to assist by getting her into his car, Burton pulled her away. She screamed for help and some men who were nearby rushed over.

However, Burton pulled a knife from his waist, hit her in the face with the handle and then stabbed the right lower back part of her head. She escaped again and ran off, but he followed and continued making stabbing motions towards her.

She was stabbed again in the back.

Burton ran off when the woman finally ran towards another group of men. Police were called and the victim was later treated at the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic and discharged.

Burton was represented by attorney Shaquilla Woodley. (SD)