"I was telling her what is desired of true Christians"

A woman who flogged another woman with a piece of 2x4 board while preaching to her about God's love and true Christian virtues was fined in court yesterday.

Carmen Jones, of a Corporate Area address, was fined $40,000 or three months imprisonment after she pleaded guilt to assault.

Jones, who assumed the persona of a preacher under the anointing, told the court why she soundly beat the complainant. In a tone befitting a preacher, she told the court she was tired of the complainant labelling her as an obeah woman.

Angry

She said, "Your Honour, I saw her going to church and hit her about three or four times ... I hit her out of the love of God and not because I was angry ... Each time I hit her, I was telling her what God desired of true Christians."

Order had to be restored to the court as loud laughter threatened to disrupt the proceedings as Jones spoke.

Resident Magistrate Lorna Shelly-Williams told the accused, "You cannot hit someone with a board."

The complainant interjected and said, "Your Honour, is not just a piece of board, but a 2x4 she used and attacked me in front of my six-year-old son."

The complainant told the court her medical bills amounted to $3,000 and RM Shelly-Williams ordered Jones to pay it. The accused subsequently compensated the complainant.

Jones then told RM Shelly-Williams that the complainant's father was also a trouble maker.

She said, "Your Honour, every day her (complainant) father throw dog mess over my yard ... When mi talk to him 'bout it, him run mi out of the yard and is the blessings mek somebody in the community put mi up."

A fingerprint order was also made against Jones.