Garnett Dockery was overcome with emotion as he recounted the events that occurred between him and his 23-year-old daughter which led to his court appearance after she accused him of physically assaulting her.

Dockery appeared before presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton at the St James Parish Court last Wednesday, pleading guilty with explanation to assault occasioning bodily harm.

The incident reportedly took place on September 26 about 6:50 pm, while Dockery and the complainant were at home in King Gate district, St James.

According to court documents, the complainant went to the kitchen to prepare a meal, returned to her room, and locked the door.

While she was in the room, the defendant knocked on the door, entered, and knocked over her meal on the bed. He then hit her in the face before dragging her by her hair.

She asked, “What did I do? Why are you doing me like this?”

She then ran into the living room, he pursued her and hit her on the head, causing her to fall, before stomping on her head and kicking her in the stomach.

The court also heard that Dockery went into the kitchen and returned with a machete.

In fear for her life, the complainant ran from the house and Dockery locked the door and left her on the verandah.

She eventually moved out of the house to live with another relative.

Dockery, who claimed to be a renal patient who had suffered a stroke, made numerous complaints about his daughter, including telling the judge that all she did was eat, smoke, and drink.

“I really boxed the plate out of her hand, and she grabbed and boxed me… She ripped my shirt and kicked me, so I pushed her onto the bed and started to punch her because I felt like I was dealing with a monster. I had to do it; I had no choice. She was railing and kicking, so I grabbed her by the hair, dragged her, and pushed her in the hall and then onto the verandah. At that point she began shouting, ‘Murder, murder, murder, b*#@$ man’, so I locked the door,” the defendant told the court.

He said that the complainant kicked the door so hard that it separated from the hinges, and the door has yet to be repaired.

The accused father later filed a report with the Anchovy police regarding the incident; however, they were unable to find the complainant.

Dockery’s bail was extended until November 6 when a cross case is expected to be presented in court.

Man sentenced to probation for assaulting municipal officer

A man accused of assaulting a municipal officer received a two-year probation sentence when he appeared in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday.

Tafari Reid pleaded guilty to assault at common law and common assault before presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton.

According to court documents, on September 16 about 12:42 pm, the complainant was performing metered parking duties on Lower Union Street in Montego Bay when he noticed the accused’s cart parked in a no-vending area. Despite a motorist’s attempt to park, Reid refused to vacate the restricted area.

When the officer was about to seize the defendant’s cart, the defendant pushed him and brandished a ratchet knife before approaching the officer. The officer had to use pepper spray to deter the accused.

Reid fled, returned with a knife, and made a second attempt to assault the officer. However, the officer managed to pick up an object from the cart and hurled it at the defendant, hitting him in the chest without causing any injuries.

The matter was reported to the police and under caution Reid said, “Officer, mi a tell yuh the truth, mi wi go court go thrash it out.”

In passing the sentence, the judge said, “Mr Reid, for the next two years you will be working with the probation officers. They are going to teach you how to manage your anger and how you can contribute positively to society. I am also warning you that if you come back before me, you are not going to like it.”