A man accused of physically assaulting the mother of his child after noticing a hickey on her neck was directed to seek counselling following his appearance in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Josiah Johnson is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

Court documents revealed that on April 12, the complainant went to pick up their child from Johnson. However, when she got there, he noticed a hickey on her neck, which did not sit well with him.

As a result, he grabbed and punched the complainant before pushing her into bushes. He then proceeded to damage her mobile phone.

Following the reading of the allegations, presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley asked the couple if they would be open to counselling, and they agreed.

The judge then ordered the pair to attend counselling at the probation office and rescheduled the case for July 7.

Johnson’s bail was extended.

Woman before court for false declaration

A woman accused of presenting false information on her passport application was hauled before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Nicole Barrett-Bernard appeared before presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley, charged with making a false declaration.

According to court documents, Barrett-Bernard went to the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) in 2022 and submitted an application for a passport renewal under her correct name.

It was later discovered that a passport was previously granted to her, bearing the name Sherine Maureen Smith.

She was summoned to the office for an interview, and during the process, she confessed that she had attempted to obtain a US visa in 2003, but it had been denied, prompting her to apply for a passport under a fictitious name.

Barrett-Bernard’s attorney Martyn Thomas informed the court that he had recently been retained and would appreciate some time to take instructions from his client and perhaps receive disclosure, referring to all relevant documents connected to the prosecution’s case file.

Smith-Ashley granted the attorney’s request and extended the accused woman’s bail until May 10 when the case will be heard again.

Property feud escalates into violence

The St James Parish Court on Thursday ordered and stayed a bench warrant for one of two men involved in a property dispute that reportedly led to one of the men inflicting knife wounds on the other and the injured man assaulting the mother of his attacker.

Aldaine Reynolds is facing a charge of unlawful wounding committed against Anthony Pottinger, while Pottinger faces a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm committed against Reynolds’ mother.

On the last mention date, March 22, the parties who had previously attended a restorative justice session were instructed to return for another session because the process was still under way.

Pottinger failed to appear in court on Thursday, and presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley ordered a bench warrant but postponed the execution until May 16.

Reynolds’ bail was extended.

In the case against Reynolds, it is alleged that about 12:20 pm on December 7, 2022, he got into an argument with Pottinger over multiple issues concerning their properties.

The argument turned physical and Reynolds allegedly stabbed Pottinger in the right shoulder, right ear, and head.

The court was also told that two days later, Pottinger and Reynolds’ mother clashed over a manhole.

During that dispute, Pottinger allegedly threw a stone which hit the woman, breaking her left middle finger.