Sheldon Barry of Zion Hill, Tortola, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and common assault but denied using threatening language to his girlfriend when he appeared at the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, September 26, 2019. Photo: VINO

Prosecutors said the pair, who has been a couple for at least ten years, was at home on the said night when the defendant’s sexual advances towards his girlfriend were shot-down because of his previous alleged infidelity.

The girlfriend, who Prosecutors said twice hurled a bottle in the defendant’s direction but missed, also tugged on his hair and initiated the fight. The defendant then reportedly held her by the neck, and after releasing her, she flung his cell phone across the room, damaging it.

Peeved, the defendant allegedly slapped his girlfriend and destroyed one of her dresses and shoe with a knife.

When he attempted to puncture a handbag of hers, the knife broke, and he reportedly told her, “The next thing the knife is going to be in is you.”

Prosecutors also said the girlfriend’s attempts to leave the house that night was impeded as her vehicle was blocked in the driveway.

The matter was then reported to the police and Barry was charged with threatening language, criminal damage and common assault.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and common assault but denied using threatening language to his girlfriend.

Sending the wrong message

Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo said on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, that the defendant’s girlfriend should also be charged for her actions.

“We have to be careful of the type of message we are sending… we have to look at the whole situation, and we have to be fair in relation to these types of matters,” she said.

“From the allegations, she assaulted him…destroyed his phone. How is he being charged, and she is not?” the magistrate asked.

Magistrate DaBreo then approved bail in the sum of $10,000 for Barry, who is scheduled to return to court on November 14, 2019.