Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Three St James men who 'ganged up' and beat a woman during a quarrel over burning of garbage are to return to court on June 21, when mediation is expected to be proposed to settle the issue in question.

Father and son Lloyd and Patrick Brown and their neighbour, Exton Cooper, who all reside in Montego Hills, St James, are charged with assault occasioning bodily harm against complainant Norma Brown, who was not in court on Thursday.

The details of the allegations were not out

lined and the three accused were not pleaded because of the absence of the complainant.

Brown (Patrick) explained to Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes that the quarrel occurred when the complainant, his aunt, attempted to put out a fire that had been set to burn garbage.

"My father was cleaning up the place, and she (complainant) was trying to put out the fire and I tried to stop her," said Brown, noting that during his intervention his aunt hit him with her water container.

"So before this, you lived okay?" Barnes asked.

"Not really," Brown admitted sheepishly.

For his part, Cooper denied that he had taken part in the brawl, saying it was strictly a family affair.

"That morning she (complainant) said she'd send everyone to jail because we helped to beat her up, but I'm not involved in this because it's a family war," Cooper said in his defence.

Judge Barnes subsequently set the matter for mention on June 21, at which time mediation will be given as an option for all the parties to work out their differences.

"Somebody needs to tell Ms Brown she needs to come here. Try and get the lady here," the judge advised the family members.

"The parties need to have discussion. They all live in the same community and they're all going to have to learn to live together," continued Barnes.