An elderly fisherman who beat his young ex-girlfriend because he said he saw her doing the 'dutty wine' with a man at a club has been convicted of unlawful wounding.

Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes found 59-year-old Keith Miller guilty of the charge and fined him $10,000 or four months' imprisonment.

testified

Tamara Campbell, also called Keisha, testified in the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court, Trelawny, that about 6 a.m. on January 8 she left a party at Rock in the parish and was walking with a male friend. Miller, who was her ex-boyfriend, walked up to her and said "you si you gal". He then began punching her in the face. She fell into the road and he came over her and continued "throwing blows" at her.

Two other men were with Miller and Campbell said the man who was walking with her ran into the bushes because one of the men threw a stone at him. She said it was only when a car approached that Miller stopped punching her. She was injured above her right eye. A report was made to the police and she was later treated at hospital.

Constable Mark Foote attached to the Falmouth Police station said he arrested and charged Miller.

Miller said he saw Keisha at Wet and Wild Club doing the "dutty wine" with a man. He waited for her and when she came outside they had an argument. He also told the court in his unsworn statement that he still loved Keisha and was sorry about the incident.