On Wednesday, The STAR carried a story about a domestic abuse case in which the complainant asked that leniency be shown towards the accused, after the case came up through an already overburdened justice system.

Blind

But, while these cases are relatively common, this one is striking (even more than the blow that was administered to the woman in the first place). The complainant, who made the report against her husband, Anthony Brown, and then asked Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown to be lenient, is blind.

Her reason for 'begging a chance' for her husband is that if he goes to jail, she will have no one to look after her. She testified to his efficiency as a caregiver, saying in court: "It doesn't matter how late 'im come home, 'im always find himself in di kitchen. Him tek care a mi, mi meals and everything. I still love him."

So, while we can theorise about financial and emotional dependence as reasons for clemency appeals in other cases of domestic abuse (and the woman made it clear that her husband had assaulted her), in this instance there is a clear physical dependency, which has led to a lasting appreciation.

We can only advise women (and men) in abusive relationships, to look at this situation closely. We suggest that, however bad and inescapable they think their situation is, it may just pale in comparison to this woman's.