‘Chop har’

“Chop har in a har #@$!” was reportedly the directive from 52-year-old Pauline Hugh-Smith as a group of women descended on a 14-year-old-girl along Holland Street in Denbigh, Clarendon, on December 30.

Yesterday, the Clarendon Parish Court was told the child was beaten and fell unconscious several times.

The court heard that a medical certificate for the child was outstanding as she was still being treated, preventing a conclusive report.

The prosecution said the child was admitted to hospital, treated, and released, but was readmitted.

Hugh-Smith and her six co-accused, charged with unlawful wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, were appearing in the Clarendon Parish Court.

Charged along with Hugh-Smith are Fayann Millwood; 22-year-old Amanda Anderson; three teen girls, ages 15, 16 and 17; and a 17-year-old boy.

The adults were granted bail in the sum of $1.2 million each, with one to two sureties, while the minors were granted bail in the sum of $600,000 each, with the mothers, who stood behind them in court, as sureties.

Anderson, who the court heard had spat in the face of the 14-year-old, is also charged with assault at common law.

Presiding Senior Parish Judge Dahlia Findlay, also placed a gag order on the accused, preventing them from publicly discussing the matter. Findlay instructed that they were banned from using WhatsApp or any social media platforms, and an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was established for the minors.

Dwight Reece, the attorney representing Hugh-Smith, argued that while his client was present at the scene of the incident, there was no action on her part that could be attributed to the injuries sustained by the child.

According to Reece, his client only made contact with the injured 14-year-old while she was on the ground, using her foot to nudge her to see if she was still alive.

According to the prosecution, Hugh-Smith, in a caution statement, said, “The likkle gyal weh get beat up – [her] mother dey with my daughter man.”

Reece, in making a bail application for his client, told Findlay that, despite public interest in the matter, the case brought against his client was one that “would ordinarily” be granted bail.

According to the prosecution, on the day in question, the injured 14-year-old said she observed two of the minors, who are known to her, walking towards her, armed with pieces of board. She reportedly ran and one of the teens said, “How yuh come fi war an’ a run?’’

The court heard that her cellphone was also confiscated during the confrontation.

SPITTING IN FACE

As per the prosecution, the beaten teen also recalled Anderson, who she described as “the fat lady in pink”, spitting in her face.

Attorney George Clue, who is representing Anderson and Millwood, said that despite the great public interest in the matter, his clients remained in their community and made no attempts to elude the law. On that premise, he said, they were eligible for discretion in being granted bail. Anderson and Millwood were taken into custody on December 31.

With a look of despondence, a 15-year-old high school student stood in the dock, seemingly grappling with the charges brought against her. In making a bail application, her attorney, Nickoy Ferguson, who is also representing a 17-year-old schoolgirl, said the older girl, who is set to sit seven Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects in the May-June external examinations, was missing school at what, he said, was a very crucial time. Both his clients and the other two teens were granted bail in the sum of $600,000 each, with their parents as sureties.

The lone male, a 17-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl are represented by attorney Paul Gentles.

The accused are to return to court on March 26.

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com