‘Don’t come back’, judge tells pair who had their matter resolved through mediation
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Presiding Judge Peter Wilson cautioned a man and a woman against returning to court after they resolved their issues through mediation when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.
Christopher Black and Taneisha Francis were answering to charges of assault at common law and unlawful wounding, respectively.
Addressing the court, Francis explained that an altercation was triggered between her and Black after he “attempted to throw a block” at her. However, both accused expressed that they just wanted the matter to be over.
Confirming that their issues had been resolved following a mediation session, Judge Wilson prompted them, “Let me see you shake each other’s hand.”
Black pleaded not guilty to assault at common law while Francis also pleaded not guilty to unlawful wounding.
Their charges were dismissed but not without a firm warning from Wilson, “In the future, show better judgement but maybe this was a good thing, because both parties learned from mediation…Don’t come back. You’re not welcome here.”
— Carlysia Ramdeen
