Man given suspended sentence for stoning woman

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James man who stoned a woman for disposing of his mattress was given two years probation and ordered to get psychiatric treatment when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Rafiki McKenzie, of a Montego Bay address, pleaded guilty to assault and occasioning actual bodily harm committed against Racquel Jones. He was given the probation order after a social enquiry report was submitted to presiding magistrate Vivienne Harris.

The court was told that on June 6, McKenzie, who had been in the community of Glendevon in St James, got into a confrontation with Jones and flung a stone at her, hitting her on the arm, causing bruising and swelling. It was also revealed that the confrontation was sparked when Jones, who was not at court on Tuesday, threw McKenzie's mattress on to a garbage truck.

"Do you know that your son needs help?" Harris asked McKenzie's mother, who was in court.

"Your Honour, I've tried so many times and he refuses. He was living with me, and his behaviour got boisterous. He was rebellious of me carrying him to the doctor, saying he's not mad," McKenzie's mother replied.

"If he knew he was not mad, he wouldn't be mad," said Harris. "He has a mental illness ... . Since he has been in custody and got his medication, he has calmed down."

The magistrate eventually released McKenzie into his mother's custody, while warning him to take his medication.

"I am sending you home with your mother, and you must take your medication," Harris admonished McKenzie.

- C.T.