By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE sergeant was yesterday ordered to attend anger management classes after he was found guilty of beating his wife over cheating allegations.
Omar Nottage, 51, must also pay his wife $500 to compensate for the injuries she received from the incident that occurred on April 14, 2021.
Yesterday’s ruling came after the Crown and defence counsel presented their closing arguments in Nottage’s causing harm trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.
The police officer was accused of punching and choking his wife while at her father’s home in Inagua.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a domestic dispute over allegations of Nottage’s wife being involved in an inappropriate relationship with his commanding officer.
Prior to sentencing, defence attorney Bjorn Ferguson sought to maintain his client’s position that his wife was the actual aggressor in the situation.
He said she was one who “came” at Nottage after he confronted her and threatened to tell their pastor about reports he received of her having an affair with his commanding officer.
The attorney also argued that the injuries she received on her neck and chest from the incident were not intentional and further suggested Nottage’s actions was a means of self-defence.
In view of this, Mr Ferguson said his client’s wife’s version of the story could not be trusted and asked the court to reject her evidence.
However, prosecutor Inspector Timothy Bain only asked the court to examine the evidence provided in the trial.
After hearing both arguments, Magistrate McKinney sided with Nottage’s wife, noting that her evidence was stronger than his in the case.
He said even though Nottage claimed he acted in self-defence, it could not be overlooked that she was still harmed in the incident.
The magistrate also told the accused that given the nature of the allegations, he should have known that approaching his wife would have caused some negative reaction.
The magistrate also said the wife’s claim that Nottage followed her after she tried to avoid him suggested he was the actual aggressor.
In a plea in mitigation, Mr Ferguson asked the court for leniency, noting his client’s clean record and 31 years of dedicated service on the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
He also described Nottage as the father of a six-year girl, who he said was emotionally and financially dependent on him.
Mr Ferguson also asked the court to consider the circumstances surrounding the incident and further noted a conviction would result in him losing his job among other things.
“This matter stems from a very volatile family relationship and not from any citizen in the conduct of his duties… so we ask the court to consider that,” the attorney said.
In response, Magistrate McKinney said it was quite unfortunate that Nottage, a long-time police officer, found himself on the wrong side of the law, especially as he was trained how to react in hostile situations.
However, he told Nottage he would not be convicted and granted an absolute discharge in the matter once he compensates his wife $500 for her injuries.
He was also ordered to attend anger management classes.
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