Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man, who beat up a woman after she ridiculed his treatment of his dog, was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, recently.

Twenty-seven-year-old security guard Fabian Morris, from Montego Bay, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, committed against Simone Wallace.

The court was told that on July 7, Wallace was among a group of women, one of whom fed chicken to Morris' dog. Morris complained about the action, claiming that he only fed his dog sausages, and the group of women laughed at him.

Shortly after, Morris confronted Wallace and slapped her on her mouth. He then used the butt of his ratchet knife to hit her above her eye.

In court, Morris told presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie that he was defending himself against Wallace.

"She was lying down, and I thought she was going to do me something because of how she got up," said Morris.

"She was lying down, both of you exchanged words, and you hit her. Do you realise you had no right to hit her?" RM Tie asked sternly.

"Is 'true' (because of) the words that were said," Morris admitted.

RM Tie subsequently ordered Morris to pay a fine of $30,000 or spend 30 days in prison.