Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Two Springmount, St James, youths were sent to settle their differences through mediation after one wounded the other in the head with a stone during a fight at a football game.

Eighteen-year-old Ashani Hylton pleaded guilty with explanation to unlawful wounding against the 16-year-old complainant when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

altercation

Allegations are that, on April 28, Hylton and the teen were playing football at the local playfield in Springmount when they had an altercation. It is said that, during the dispute, Hylton flung a stone that struck the complainant in the back of the head, causing a wound which bled.

'I am guilty with a reason," Hylton commented when the charges were read.

"Guilty with a reason; excellent. What is the reason?" questioned Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes.

"I was defending myself. He (complainant) held on to my neck," the accused stated.

first punch

But the complainant refuted the claim when he was called forward, saying that Hylton threw the first punch.

"He was the one who hit me first. He 'chucked' (pushed) me, I walked off, and he came up and hit me again. So I turned and 'thumped' (fisted) him," explained the 16-year-old.

Meanwhile, the investigating officer told the court that the complainant will be attending the Family Court in another two weeks in relation to the same incident.

"Do you normally play football at the field? Is it the first time something like this happened?" RM Barnes asked.

"Yes, miss," they replied.

"We're going to refer you to mediation, because we want you to continue playing football on the same field," she said. "The matter will be mentioned on August 16, and this matter is referred to mediation. You come back and let me know how it goes, because you are going to work it out."