OLD HARBOUR, St Catherine — A 23 year-old woman who allegedly used a machete to chop a cabbie whom she claimed was not only operating illegally but also overcharging her, was arrested by the Old Harbour police on Wednesday.

Charged with felonious wounding is Yeshea Richards from Old Harbour, while the injured man is Roy Reynolds, 22, of the same community.

Shortly before noon on Wednesday, Richards took Reynolds’ vehicle from Old Harbour Bay to Old Harbour. Upon reaching her destination she handed him $100, expecting to receive $70 in change. The cabbie instead collected a $40 fare, sparking Richards’ angry objection that she was not willing to pay that amount because Reynolds was operating illegally.

Her objection led to an altercation between the two, during which Richards ran to a cane vendor’s cart, grabbed a machete and used it to chop Reynolds on his left hand, cops said. The cabbie was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital for medical attention. According to eyewitnesses, Richards walked to the police station and turned herself in.

Speaking with the Observer from inside the custody room, Richards was adamant that she was not prepared to give the cab driver more than the $30 that he deserved, as he was not legally authorised to operate a taxi. She also maintained that it was Reynolds who had instigated the altercation between them, using a knife to cut her on her left hand.

“Him use a knife fi cut mi pon me hand,” she said, pointing to a two-inch cut above the palm of her left hand, “so mi jus go grab a machete and slap him wid it, so mi neva know sey him get cut.”