Colihaut woman to pay $1,000 in compensation for fight with another woman

Nadia Bruno, a mother of two sons from Colihaut has six months to find $1,000 as compensation to another woman, Marie Helen Andrew of that same community for assault causing actual bodily harm.

Resident judge Justice Errol Thomas made that order while passing sentence on Nadia Bruno at the Roseau High Court on Friday May 13, 2016.

Bruno, 37, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to do GBH to Andrew, the wife of a policeman, on Monday June 6, 2011 at Goodwill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The trial had begun Thursday April 28, 2016 when Bruno, represented by lawyer Peter Alleyne, changed her plea to guilty of the second count.

During the trial, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Evelina Baptiste went on to explain the circumstances of the case.

Andrew had gone to the Princess Margaret Hospital with her husband, an outpatient, on Monday June 6, 2011 about 9:45am.

At one point she saw her husband walking in a northerly direction with Bruno. She walked calmly at the back of the two to catch what they were saying.

"The accused looked back and saw me… and that was when she lunged at me and held my hair, saying, long I waiting for you," she said.

Bruno threw Andrew down on the concrete floor of the hospital corridor and held on tightly to her hair. The assault continued until the two women were separated. Afterwards Andrew said she felt a sharp aching pain in her right shoulder and she was taken to the police and then to the PMH.

Before sentencing Justice Thomas noted the effect Bruno's behaviour could have on her children in a small community. Commenting on the principles of sentencing, the judge added that prevention was applicable to avoid further offences of this nature.

He ordered compensation of $1,000 to be paid in six months by November 16, 2016, and in default Bruno would be brought back to court to be sentenced to six months in prison.

Justice Thomas stressed that it was now her duty to live a productive life.