ST, JAMES, Jamaica — The assault case against former councillor for the Montego Bay West Division in St James, David Brown continues to be hobbled by challenges in getting input from the complainant, who is his ex-girlfriend. However a March 11 trial date has now been set.

The court has been advised that it has been difficult to get Brown’s ex-girlfriend to give a statement or appear in court.

The assault allegedly occurred during a confrontation between the two in May of last year.

Brown, who is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and malicious destruction of property, appeared in the St James Parish Court on Friday. He is being represented by attorney-at-law Albert Morgan.

During the hearing, the clerk-of-court informed the court that she had spoken with the investigating officer to ascertain whether the complainant was still interested in the case, and that she was reviewing a statement that Morgan had forwarded to her.

“I also spoke with the complainant and she’s not interested in pursuing this matter. When I spoke with her on the 5th of March, I informed her she could do one of two things: give a further statement to the police as to her interest in the matter or come to court, and she opted to go to the police,” the clerk said.

However, the Crown’s contention is that the complainant has not gone to the police and she was not present in court on Friday.

The clerk added that she was advised by the officer, on Thursday, that he had contacted the complainant to obtain a statement but she had not shown up. The clerk also stated that she also tried to contact the complainant on Thursday, but was unsuccessful.

“We are asking for another date where we can try to reach her once more or ask the officer to make some additional efforts to visit her place of business and try to collect the statement,” the clerk added.

In her response, presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley stated that a trial date would be required, and Morgan requested an early date.

The case was subsequently set for trial on March 11 and Brown’s bail was extended.

The allegations against Brown are that on May 28, 2023 the complainant — with whom he was in a relationship — was sitting in her car when he knocked on the vehicle’s window.

The two got into an argument during which Brown hit the complainant in her face, causing pain and swelling, and also damaged her car window.

Brown was subsequently suspended from the Jamaica Labour Party following his arrest and charge.

The embattled councillor had previously faced legal trouble in 2018 in relation to an outstanding warrant from the St James Family Court concerning a matter with the mother of his child, as well as for reportedly verbally abusing a woman on social media in March 2018.

Brown faced more legal issues after allegedly hitting a 65-year-old man with his licensed firearm on August 3 that year.

He spent five days in police custody before eventually being released.

In 2019, that case against Brown was dismissed after the complainant declared that he no longer wanted to pursue it.