March 11 date for former St James councillor on assault charge
Published:Monday | March 11, 2024 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST JAMES Parish Court is to be advised by today whether the ex-girlfriend of former St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) councillor David Brown, who allegedly attacked her during a confrontation in May 2023, is interested in continuing the matter.
Brown, who is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and malicious destruction of property, had his bail extended when he appeared before presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Ashley last Friday. The complainant was not present in court during the proceedings.
In outlining the latest update in the matter, the clerk informed Ashley that the complainant had indicated an unwillingness to pursue the case against Brown any further, but had provided no follow-up documentation to that end.
“I did speak with the officer, and I also spoke with the complainant, and she is not interested in pursuing this matter. When I spoke with her on March 5, I informed her that she could do one of two things, either give a further statement to the police as to her interest, or to attend court, and she opted to go to the police,” the clerk explained. “Up to yesterday (last Thursday), the officer messaged me to say he reached out to her to obtain the statement, but she has not turned up. I tried reaching her up to yesterday, and I did not reach her.”
Following that revelation, Ashley set the case for continuation on March 11, at which time it will be determined whether the matter will proceed to trial.
The allegations are that on May 28, 2023, the complainant, with whom Brown was in a relationship, was sitting in her car when Brown knocked on the vehicle’s window. The two got into a quarrel, during which Brown hit the complainant in her face, causing pain and swelling, and also damaged her car window.
Brown, who served as the StJMC’s councillor for the Montego Bay West division, was subsequently suspended from the Jamaica Labour Party following his arrest and charge.
Brown had previously run afoul of the law in 2018 in relation to an outstanding warrant from the St James Family Court about a matter with the mother of his child, and also for allegedly hitting a 65-year-old man with his licensed firearm on August 3 that year. Brown spent five days in police custody before eventually being released.
The assault case was discontinued in 2019 after the complainant indicated that he did not wish to proceed any further against Brown.
Prior to his August 2018 arrest, Brown came under fire for reportedly verbally abusing a woman on social media in March 2018. At that time, the StJMC’s minority caucus of the People’s National Party served notice that they would bring a motion to have Brown suspended for his alleged actions.
Additionally, Brown’s court case drew parallels to similar allegations which were brought against Westmoreland Central Member of Parliament George Wright in 2021. Those allegations arose from controversy over a video which showed a man, purported to be Wright, hitting a woman with his fists and a stool.
Wright and his partner, Tannisha Singh, had reported a confrontation on April 6, 2021 that coincided with the video which went viral days later, although Wright never confirmed or denied the allegations against him. The police’s investigation eventually ended after the two parties refused to cooperate with the authorities.
Interestingly, Brown’s latest court hearing took place on International Women’s Day, which is celebrated annually on March 8. This year’s celebration was held under the theme ‘Investing in women: Accelerate progress’.