MONTEGO BAY, St James — A domestic quarrel sparked by a woman’s request for a male friend to help her get back on her feet after Hurricane Melissa, allegedly erupted into a terrifying machete attack by her boyfriend, Gavin Seaton.

However, he insists he is innocent.

Seaton was granted $150,000 bail with up to three sureties on Wednesday when he appeared in the St James Parish Court before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton on charges of assaulting his girlfriend.

Prosecutors say the alleged attack happened on November 4 in Mount Zion, St James.

The complainant was speaking with a male friend about her house that had blown down during the hurricane, asking him for help. Seaton, who lives with her, allegedly became irate, stepped onto the veranda, grabbed her cell phone and her throat, punching her in the rib and breast area.

The woman managed to escape, but Seaton allegedly escalated the attack by attempting to chop her with a machete. She ran into a neighbour’s house, but Seaton allegedly chased her and pushed the machete through the neighbour’s window.

A police report was made, which led to Seaton being arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and assault at common law.

Under caution, he reportedly said, “She love mi; this naah go nowhere.”

However, in court on Wednesday, Seaton denied the allegations.

“I never put my hands on her; I swear on my life,” he said.

During the hearing, prosecutors reported that a medical certificate and a neighbour’s statement were still outstanding.

The matter is scheduled to be mentioned again on January 21, 2026.