Hair cut costs man $2,500

An argument with his ex-girlfriend over the cutting of their child’s hair, resulted in Mitchfield Simmons finding himself on the wrong side of the law.

Simmons was fined $2500 by Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman for wounding Maxyan Cato, a student nurse of Evesham. Failure to pay the fine by July 31, he would spend six months in prison.{{more}}

On December 22, 2006, Cato said that he went to the popular nightspot “Pier 1” where he was hanging out with his cousin and some other friends. He said Simmons came where they were sitting and started an argument with Donya Williams over the cutting of their child’s hair. Cato said Simmons placed the child in his care and continued arguing with his ex-girlfriend.

“I was there sitting when I saw him give her a slap.” Cato said he then stood up and went to Simmons and told him that he shouldn’t hit her because she is not with him anymore. “After speaking to him, I saw him take out a knife and he stabbed me,” said Cato.

He explained to the court that he did not even realise he got stabbed until he felt a burning sensation running down his chest. He said he ran downstairs and went to the police station whereupon they carried him to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital for medical attention.

In Simmons’ evidence he said that he heard that his child’s hair had been cut and that when he met his ex-girlfriend at “Vee Jay’s rooftop” that same night, he enquired if it was true. He said he then went home and got the child and went to Pier 1 where Williams had gone, and asked why the child’s hair had been cut. He admitted placing the child in Cato’s arms and hitting him when he got up and came to where he was standing. He said Cato placed his hand on his pocket. This is when he got his knife and cut him.

Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman also placed a two-year bond on Simmons for his actions.