KINGSTON, Jamaica — A dispute between a female resident of a housing complex and the property’s security guard took centre stage in the Kingston and St Andrew Court on Tuesday but ended with the complainant being told her case had no merit.

Nicola Lewis had brought a case of assault occasioning bodily harm against security guard Marshall Williams, claiming that he struck her with an automated gate. The case was heard by Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell, who firmly dismissed its prospects after hearing both sides of the story.

Lewis alleged that she was returning to the property where she resides when the automated gate, seemingly operated by Williams, struck her. Her attorney argued that she could not have avoided the incident because the gate was not visible from her position. In her medical, Lewis claimed the incident caused pain to the upper-right part of her body and sought US$2,000 in damages.

However, Judge Burrell reminded the complainant’s lawyer that “people have a duty to mitigate” risks before stating bluntly, “The case with this man is going absolutely nowhere!”

The case had previously gone to mediation, but those efforts failed to yield a resolution.

Lewis also faced a charge brought against her by Williams for malicious destruction of property, for which she pleaded not guilty.

The hearing ended with both cases being dismissed and a visibly frustrated Williams exited the courtroom, trailed by Lewis.

– Carlysia Ramdeen