ST JAMES, Jamaica — An assault case against three family members accused of roughing up a female relative was successfully resolved through mediation on Tuesday but a quarrel is still brewing over a banana tree.

Andrew Woozencraft, Kimika Woozencraft and Pauline James appeared before presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley, charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

According to court records, on November 20, 2022, the complainant, who lives in the same house with the three accused individuals, pushed over a bath pan filled with clothes, resulting in her being beaten by the three defendants.

Andrew allegedly punched the complainant, and Pauline, the complainant’s daughter, allegedly hit her with a stick. Kimika is also accused of hitting her with an object.

Though the situation was not resolved during mediation, the complainant told the court during Tuesday’s session that she was willing to drop the case.

“Mi just want to finish wid it,” she said.

“Would you like to try counselling today?” Judge Smith-Ashley then asked.

“No, your honour,” the complainant said with an unpleasant facial expression.

The judge was not satisfied and temporarily deferred the case so that the parties could participate in another mediation session with a probation officer who was in court.

When the case was revisited, the parties informed the court that the situation had been settled, but Kimika highlighted an issue involving the complainant that seemed to indicate that the problem had not been fully resolved.

“Your honour, she (the complainant) has a banana sucker at the section where I need to put my shop and sell,” Kimika said.

The disgruntled complainant, however, insisted that the accused woman wait until the banana developed.

The prosecution subsequently offered no evidence in the assault case against the trio.

“It seems like you have to go back to mediation to work out your banana issue,” the judge said before allowing the parties to leave.

The complainant then angrily grabbed her bag from the bench and stormed out the courtroom, arguing vociferously.