KINGSTON, Jamaica — A judge has ordered a 66-year-old man to find alternative accommodation after he was brought before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court to answer to the charges of assault at common law and malicious destruction of property stemming from growing tensions with his wife.

Ranswood Scott was brought before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell on Tuesday by his wife of 30 years who alleged that Scott had assaulted her on multiple occasions.

Responding to inquiries by Judge Burrell about whether or not she planned on dissolving the marriage, the complainant said “yes”. She went on to explain that it was not the first time her husband had assaulted her. She further claimed that she was in fear for her life.

The couple shares the same house but lives in separate rooms.

According to Scott’s wife, he once threatened to kill her with a crowbar and accused her of “selling her body” and “catching man to buy house”, spreading these allegations throughout the neighbourhood.

The court also heard that Scott allegedly slashed electrical wires at a house where their tenant lives, leaving the property without power.

His wife then recounted an instance where he “asked for her body” but she refused because he had “given her an infection” before. She said these were among the many problems she had with her husband and having lost her mother to high blood pressure she was trying to avoid the same demise.

Questioned about the charges brought against him, Scott denied the allegations. However, the lawyer representing Scott’s wife told Judge Burrell that based on her knowledge it was not wise that the two lived under the same roof.

Judge Burrell then ordered Scott to find alternative accommodation and provide the court with an address, warning that failure to do so would result in him being placed in state care.

Scott later returned and provided the address of his brother-in-law, confirming he would stay there. He denied the accusations again, claiming they were untrue and insisted that it was difficult for him to leave the home he had lived in for years due to being “sickly”.

Burrell, however, said she could not ignore the allegations presented in court, stating that if they were false, it would make his wife a “very wicked woman” but that until the matter was resolved, it was best that they live separately.

A trial date was set for April 29 to continue until May 1.

— Carlysia Ramdeen