News

Haitian hot oil attack!

By PAUL A. REID, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU

A PREGNANT HAITIAN refugee poured hot oil on her cousin who she accused of having an affair with her boyfriend.

The refugees, residents of the Montpelier camp in St. James were in Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court last Wednesday where the pregnant refugee, Elevien Marquette, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault Causing grievous bodily harm. The 24-year-old Marquette was given a suspended sentence

Marquette who is four months pregnant and who was sent to Jamaica last April by her parents in search of a better life, the court heard, was sentenced to nine months suspended for two years.

In handing down sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Ms Winsome Henry told Marquette she was saved from going straight to prison only because she is pregnant.

Her Honour, Ms. Henry told Marquette through an interpreter, "There is no justification, no reason for you to throw hot oil in her face."

The judge warned her, however, that if she were to get in any trouble in the next two years, she would be sent straight to prison for nine months.

The complainant was sleeping in the refugee camp on January 23 this year, when she felt burning sensations to parts of her body and awoke to see Marquette standing over her with a knife and a pot in her hands.

The complainant sustained burns to her face and chest and a medical report said she would have scars for the rest of her life.