(PLTM) - Crown Counsel Herbert Potter today, October 8, insisted on the penalising of an elderly woman who assaulted a teacher, insisting, “We cannot allow the assault of our teachers.”
He was at the time prosecuting a case involving an elderly, Laura Vanterpool, a woman who assaulted one of the teachers at her grandchild’s school.
Back in 2016, the accused went to the Claudia Creque Educational Centre where the teacher—Candia McFarlane—was in a meeting in the Principal’s office.
Vanterpool reportedly began banging on the door, and when Ms McFarlane opened the door, the accused barged in, pushing her out of the way.
After regaining her composure, the teacher allegedly attempted to take a seat when Vanterpool pulled the chair from under her, almost causing her to fall.
The accused opted to plead guilty to these accusations, but her Attorney, Stephen Daniels pleaded for leniency—telling the court that his client is remorseful.
“In her over-zealousness, that is how the matter occurred,” he told Magistrate Giselle Jackman-Lumy, requesting that she be reprimanded and the case dismissed. He also made this request on the grounds that the Virtual Complainant did not suffer any material injuries.
However, the Crown Counsel opposed this request, saying that the VC endured “suffering” as “she was in tears.”
“We are speaking about a teacher guiding the youth,” he stated, adding that as an elderly person, the accused “should have known better.”
“We cannot allow our citizens to assault our teachers,” he stated, making a request for compensation.
The accused offered $300, which was refused.
The matter will return to court on October 17 for a decision.
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