KINGSTON, Jamaica — Relatives were directed to the back of a courtroom and told to resolve a dispute that started over scattered leaves in their yard when they refused mediation in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

Taneisha James and her daughter, Tamara Phipps, appeared before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell after being brought to court by Phipps’ cousin.

The prosecutor described the situation as unfortunate, stemming from an argument over swept leaves that later ended up in front of the complainant’s yard. Judge Burrell noted that the wind could easily have scattered the leaves.

However, Phipps explained that her family had been repeatedly provoked. She said the conflict escalated when the complainant swept garbage under their window. Her mother, James, went outside to clean it, which led to a confrontation between her and the cousin. Phipps said she only got involved after seeing them fighting.

James is charged with unlawful wounding, while Phipps faces a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Judge Burrell asked if they would consider resolving the matter through restorative justice or mediation, both of which James and Phipps agreed to, but the complainant declined.

“I can’t send you back to the yard to live bad,” Burrell said, before instructing all three relatives to sit shoulder to shoulder on the same courtroom bench and figure it out.

— Carlysia Ramdeen