Man, 39, denies beating his mom for not giving him birthday gift

A 39-year-old Redemption Sharpes man is to be tried on Monday on an allegation that he beat up his 58-year-old mother because she did not give him a birthday gift.

The man, Atiba Phillips, however, admitted to the Serious Offences Court that he damaged her cell phone, as charged, and her bedroom door — for which he was not charged.

He pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Colin John to charges that on Aug. 4, at Redemption Sharpes, without lawful excuse, he damaged one black DLT smartphone, valued at EC$475, the property of Marlene Phillips, of Redemption Sharpes, and was reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Phillips on that same date at Redemption Sharpes, causing actual bodily harm.

Presenting the facts, prosecutor, acting Corporal of Police 745 Harry said that the defendant and his mother live in the same household but the defendant is very disrespectful of his mother and other family members.

The prosecutor said that on Aug. 4, about 9 a.m., the VC was at home when the defendant started to curse and behave aggressively because he did not receive any gift for his birthday.

The VC paid him no attention.

She left home and proceeded to a shop but while she was leaving the yard the defendant told her he would follow her and beat her with a piece of board.

On her way back, the VC heard the defendant’s voice from afar. On her return home, she went into the shop that she owns, which is attached to the dwelling house.

The defendant continued to argue telling his mother he did not like her and would kill her.

The defendant held on to his mother’s clothes, lifted her up and threw her onto the public road.

He dragged her about 10 feet from where she landed resulting in injuries to her right hand and right knee.

The woman’s phone was in her right back pocket and the screen was badly cracked as a result of the incident.

The VC made a report to the police and was issued with medical injury forms, which she later returned, completed with the doctor’s findings.

The defendant was arrested on Aug. 16 and later charged.

However, in mitigation, the defendant told the court that his mother had just gotten into an accident involving a passenger van.

He said that it was not true that he had dragged her at her home on Aug. 4.

“Listen to me. Sometimes, I can’t explain in court. I was guilty of certain things that the lady read out. I did not drag her,” the defendant told the court, referring to the facts as presented by the prosecutor.

The defendant then gave a version of what had happened.

He further told the court that he is originally from Gibson Corner, but moved to  Redemption Sharpes when he was 10 years old to live with his mother.

“What I am asking you, I will like to move out of my mother’s place,” he told the court.

 “So, what is stopping you?” the magistrate asked.

Phillips said that he would like to have a police officer escort him to remove his property from his mother’s house, adding that he would pay her back for the things that he damaged.

The defendant further told the court that he was “guilty for some things, like damaging the bedroom door”.

However, John told the defendant that there was nothing before the court in relation to the damage to the bedroom door.

“I telling you straight up, boss. Me ain’t beat my mother, I ain’t slam my mother,” the defendant further said.

The magistrate, after hearing the defendant’s explanation, entered a not-guilty plea on the ABH charge.

He noted that Phillips had admitted to damaging his mother’s cell phone. The court, therefore, accepted the guilty plea on that charge.

John ordered Phillips to pay a fine of EC$300 for the damage to property charge and to compensate his mother in the value of the phone.

He was given two months to pay and the trial on the ABH charge was set for Sept. 9, at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court.

John advised Phillips to go to the police and ask them to accompany him to remove his items from his mother’s place.