KINGSTON, Jamaica — A 32-year-old woman broke down in court on Tuesday as she recounted the events that led to her allegedly assaulting a woman she said taunted her after discovering her live-in boyfriend had secretly married someone else.

Charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, Chevanna Manning broke into a fit of tears before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court as she tried to explain what led to the confrontation. The matter had to be briefly stood down to allow her time to compose herself. When proceedings resumed, Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell asked if she was ready to continue, to which she replied yes.

Manning told the court that her interactions with the complainant began after she discovered that her boyfriend, with whom she shares a child, had married another woman while still living with her. According to her, once word got out in the community, the complainant, who had recently moved into the area, began taunting her about the situation.

Judge Burrell acknowledged that the ordeal must have been painful but reminded Manning that she was not the first woman to face such a betrayal.

The judge then turned to the complainant and asked if she had in fact been taunting Manning. The young woman, however, denied the allegation.

Manning explained that they were never friends and claimed that the complainant had moved into the community to be with a man and had since joined others in mocking her.

Judge Burrell referred both parties to restorative justice, which they agreed to. She noted that Manning appeared to be in need of significant counselling and expressed disappointment that another woman would choose to tear her down instead of offering support.

— Carlysia Ramdeen