The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Court Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was placed on conditional discharge and told to behave by a magistrate after he admitted to punching his sister after a night out drinking alcohol.

Bernal Brown, 23, appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux on a charge of causing harm.

On June 16 in New Providence, the accused reportedly punched his sister, the complainant Tamika Smith, in her face and about her body at her residence.

While Brown initially pleaded “guilty with a question mark” to the charges in court after the Magistrate clarified the matter for him, he pleaded guilty with an explanation.

Brown agreed with the prosecution’s summary of events that night, which stated that after being heavily intoxicated, he got into a fight with his sister. This argument was the result of Brown taking items that Ms Smith sells without paying for them.

However, while Brown admitted to punching his sister in the face, he disagreed with the prosecution’s assertion that he further punched her about the body.

The magistrate cautioned Brown against using violence, saying even one punch could be lethal. Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux then placed Brown on a conditional discharge ordering him to behave for one month.

Should Brown default on these conditions he will not be granted the absolute discharge for successfully meeting the court’s terms. He would also face a one-month sentence in the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Brown is expected to return to court for mention on July 29.