Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Two St James women who got into a noisy quarrel at a shop were ordered to pay $3,000 in fines, or spend five days in jail, when they appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Diane McKenzie and Shelly Heath, both from Montego Bay, pleaded guilty with explanation for disorderly conduct which took place earlier this month.

Behaving boisterously

In her explanation, McKenzie told Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai that she went to the shop to conduct business when Heath, who was already there, began behaving boisterously.

"I went to the shop and she saw me and started to 'carry on'," said McKenzie. "She has been going around and telling people that I'm doing this and doing that, and that I'm taking away her man."

But Heath disputed McKenzie's explanation, claiming that it was the other woman who behaved badly.

"I said (to the shopkeeper) to give me a box milk so I can come out because disruption is in here," said Heath. "She saw me and started to tell me about my mother."

RM Tai scolded the two women for their behaviour while fining each $3,000.

"It does not look good for two big women to go on like that. What you have done is embarrass yourselves," the magistrate told the defendants.