Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News
Gary Smith, a fisherman has pleaded not guilty to common assault involving an incident at sea where he allegedly beat his girlfriend.
Smith, 39, was granted $45,000 bail signed with surety and ordered to attend the partnership for peace programme, pending the outcome of his case.
On Wednesday, January 30, Prosecutor Valston Graham said the defendant and the complainant were involved in an intimate relationship for three years and resided together at East End.
He said on November 8, 2012, they were on a fishing boat at sea when they got into an argument.
Graham said Smith got upset and hit the complainant, but she retaliated and hit him back. At this point, Smith allegedly pushed the woman off the side of the boat. Graham said the complainant's head fell into the water and her feet were hooked on the boat.
The court heard that Smith then pulled her up and they continued to fight.
It is also alleged that Smith used his elbow to strike the woman in the face, resulting in her lip being burst.
The matter was reported to the police and Smith told police officers that the complainant hit him first and he was using his elbow to block her when it struck her lip.
Smith told Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards that he attended the partnership for peace programme some years ago.
