Wounded young woman refuses to give evidence in case against boyfriend

With a damaged eye, a 23-year-old woman came to court yesterday to indicate her wish for the case against her boyfriend, charged with stabbing her repeatedly, not to go forward.

Twenty-seven-year-old Sandy Bay resident, Raphael Lavia was brought to the Serious Offences Court (SOC) yesterday, August 17.

After the charge was read to him that he did inflicting grievous bodily harm on his girlfriend, of Georgetown, on August 2, at Sandy Bay; Lavia pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution indicated that the girlfriend or “the complainant” in the matter, had something she wanted to say.
The 23-year-old entered the courtroom, and told the magistrate that she did not want to go forward with the case against her boyfriend.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche had to ask her a number of times what Lavia had allegedly done to her, as the young lady seemed reluctant to say.

It was eventually revealed that the charge had originated from an alleged incident wherein Lavia is said to have stabbed her about her body, including in the area of her face. SEARCHLIGHT understands that a pair of scissors was taken as evidence.

When asked if Lavia was still her boyfriend, the young woman replied that he was.

The prosecutor asked her if she had forgiven him, and she confirmed this.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne asked her if they have children together, but she replied that while they did not, she has three children: a five-year-old, a three-year-old and a one-year-old.

The young woman is a teacher on the SET (Support for Education and Training) program, and is based at the Multipurpose Centre in Georgetown.

The magistrate impressed upon the girlfriend that she had the “skill set” that would enable her to be independent.
Turning to Lavia, she told him “the offence for which you’re here and charged now is a serious one” and “a most vicious and wicked one.”

She told him that he was lucky, and that by stabbing about the body, there is a possibility that the heart or lung may be punctured, and then the victim may not be alive anymore.

Browne emphasized “That’s not how you treat women,” and that there were no circumstances that could trigger such behaviour.

While the magistrate was speaking to the defendant, the Senior Prosecutor pointed out that when he looked at Lavia’s face there was no remorse on it whatsoever.

Turning once again to the girlfriend, the magistrate told her that she “can’t make decisions” for individuals, but that she should consider that she is fortified already.

“Mr Lavia has been here before and for serious matters too,” Browne stated.

She reiterated to the young woman that she was old enough to make her decisions but that she should be minded that she has her skills.

To 27-year-old Lavia, the magistrate told him that he is free to go but that she is “very, very displeased” with his alleged behaviour.

“And you keep frequenting the courts,” she told him.

Lavia walked out of the courtroom without showing any emotion.