From the Courts
January 23, 2009
Barnwell pleads guilty to assault

Osmond Barnwell is counting his lucky stars that he was not sent to jail.{{more}}

Magistrate Zoila Ellis- Browne fined Barnwell $250 to be paid in one week or he will have to spend three months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend at the Calliaqua Magistrate Court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Ellis-Browne informed Barnwell that an assault charge carried a maximum prison term of five years.

Barnwell told Magistrate Ellis- Browne that it was the first time that he had ever been involved in such an incident. He said “I’m not a harsh guy, me and she had a good relationship going”.

The Court heard that the Lowmans Windward resident went to the home of his ex-girlfriend to collect a hat that he had left there. The woman went into the bedroom to retrieve the hat and Barnwell followed her. He then proceeded to forcefully hold her around the neck. This resulted in her receiving several injuries around the neck. She struggled with him and was able to escape while screaming for help. (VM)