Strict bail conditions, including moving to a new address, have been imposed on a 33-year-old vendor charged with wounding her neighbour.
Tiffany Antoinett Baker, of The Woods, Howells Cross Road, St Michael, is charged that on September 5, she unlawfully wounded Danara Hunte-Williams with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or do some serious bodily harm to her.
The charge is indictable, and no plea was taken in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court.
Constable Cindy Greaves objected to bail, citing Section 6 of the Bail Act. She said there was a likelihood that the defendant would endanger public safety and that granting bail would undermine or jeopardise the objectives or proper functioning of the criminal justice system.
The prosecutor also highlighted the alleged degree of violence in the matter, saying: “The complainant is still hospitalised due to the injuries she allegedly received at the hands of the accused,” and that Hunte-Williams had received multiple stab wounds to the chest and stomach, for which she had to undergo surgery.
But Baker’s attorney, Samuel Legay, stressed that his client had also been hospitalised following the altercation and was still receiving treatment.
He told the court: “She is not the aggressor, but the other person got the worst. She has no history of violence, nothing that says she will undermine the justice system, and the court has jurisdiction to grant bail with conditions including having her hand over her passport. She can also be granted the opportunity to move from where she is currently living.”
Granting Baker bail in the sum of $10 000 with a surety, Magistrate Jared Richards ordered that she remove herself from her current address that evening and not return until the case was fully adjudicated.
“You are to stay away from the virtual complainant in person, by text message, WhatsApp or smoke signal. If you see her walking on the same side of the road, cross to the other side,” he warned.
The accused was also instructed to report to a police station weekly.
The case will continue on December 8.
(JB)
