The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was fined $850 in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday for assaulting his former girlfriend who he accused of having an affair with his brother.

Bill Frazer, 36, of Homestead Avenue, stood before Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, on charges of threats of death and assault against his ex-girlfriend, Pretrell Clarke.

At 10.50am on May 19 at Frazer’s residence he was arrested after striking Clarke on her left arm with a PVC pipe causing her pain and then threatening to kill her. After police arrested the accused he admitted to the offence in a subsequent interview.

In court the accused pleaded guilty to the offence, but with an explanation.

Frazer told the court that he had an argument with the complainant on the day of the incident when he accused her of sleeping with his brother. It was because of this that he was trying to get her to move out of his home and only after getting angry during their argument did he use the pipe to slap a phone out of her hand, Frazer told the court.

Before breaking down in tears the accused further explained that he thinks his family is conspiring against him. Frazer added that even under all of this serious emotional distress he would never intentionally hurt the complainant who he says is a good caretaker of their son.

When the Magistrate asked if he regretted his actions, Frazer said that he was remorseful, and apologised for what he had done. He said he wanted to start his life over.

While Magistrate Allen acknowledged that the accused had a prior conviction from 2021, he noted that Frazer was trying to turn his life around as he now had a new job to provide for his two children.

In view of this the Magistrate spared Frazer a custodial sentence. Magistrate Allen further advised Frazer to cut out some of the toxic relationships in his life and to better control his temper.

As part of the Magistrate’s verdict the accused is expected to pay a fine of $500 for the threats of death charge and a further $350 for the assault charge. Failure to pay either of the fines would result in one month in custody to be served concurrently.

The court agreed that Frazer can be released as long as he pays half the balance of his fine by June 2, with the remainder to be paid at a later date.