MONTEGO BAY, St James — A long-running dispute over land is being blamed for an incident between a woman and a young boy which resulted in her being taken before the court.

Sharon Brackett appeared before presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough Hylton in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday, charged with assault.

The child in question appears to be between the ages of 10 and 12.

According to court records, they are neighbours.

It is alleged that about 2:30 pm on August 15, the juvenile and the accused woman were involved in a dispute. Brackett proceeded to the complainant’s yard and began removing the boy’s clothes from the line. She then allegedly walked up to his verandah and spat in his face.

After hearing the allegations, Justice Fairclough-Hylton asked the defendant if she spat in the boy’s face. Brackett denied the allegation.

She told the court that she has faced significant hardship over the last three years and that the authorities are already aware of the situation.

“I’m going through hell; they say it’s their land and I can’t stay there,” Brackett said.

The judge then transferred the case to the Lay Magistrate’s Court for mention on October 18.