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Pay or go to jail- Magistrate tells VG man who assaulted woman

- Leon Forbes found guilty of Common Assault
Leon Forbes has been found guilty of Common Assault and fined $1000. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A man from Virgin Gorda has been told to pay a $1,000 fine two days before Valentine's Day, on February 12, 2020, or risk spending two months at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut.

Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo returned with a guilty verdict for Leon Forbes at the conclusion of his trial on Tuesday, 12, November 2019 at the Magistrate's Court in John's Hole.

Forbes was charged with Common Assault for the offence, which occurred on September 21, 2018.

He pleaded not guilty, and the trial started at the Magistrate's Court on Monday, September 23, 2019.

VC's testimony

During the trial, the Virtual Complainant (VC) said she was walking in the vicinity of Speedy's in the Valley on Virgin Gorda when she was struck from behind with a scooter being ridden by Forbes at the time.

After hitting her, Forbes reportedly said, "Why all you messaging my girl with all kinds of things and all you know nothing no go so?"

It was then that she allegedly told him that he had the wrong person as she did not speak to his girlfriend, but one of her cousins did.

"I must kill one of ayo," he then allegedly told her before riding off.

The VC continued that, following the encounter, Forbes and his friend Gerrel Williams returned, and he continued his attack on her.

She said Forbes started shouting at her and he got off his scooter and held her by her neck against a nearby wall.

It was then that Forbes reportedly said she liked 'messing' with the relationship of other people.

Following the incident, the VC made a report to the Virgin Gorda Police Station, and Forbes was arrested and charged.

An abrasion on her neck and white paint chips on her hair and back from the fence where she was held were photographed and presented to the court.

Forbes' case

Forbes told the court that he wouldn't testify, but he would bring an eyewitness to testify on his behalf.

The eye witness was his schoolmate and friend, Gerrel Williams of Virgin Gorda.

Williams said his friend spoke to the VC in his presence, but he never laid his hands on her.

He explained that when the VC saw Forbes approaching her with him, she backed up against a wall with a white picket fence in the area.

At that time, he said Forbes told her about the lies that were being said to his girlfriend about him, that he did not like.

Following his evidence in chief, Prosecutor Melissa Brewley argued that he was not speaking the truth to the court.

The Prosecutor reminded him that he gave the Virgin Gorda Police a statement a few days following the incident where he said Forbes, held the VC's head and braced her against the wall.

Williams replied that while he gave the police a statement and signed the same, the statement in court was not what he gave to the police.

The court finds you guilty

Magistrate DaBreo then told Forbes that his witness was not credible and his testimony would not be accepted by the court.

On the other hand, she said the court believed the VC when she testified earlier and would accordingly adopt her version of the incident on the night.

"There was indeed common assault; we saw photos of the black mark on her leg (tire impression), the white paint on her clothing. I find you guilty," the Magistrate said.

Forbes, who did not have legal representation, defended himself during the criminal proceedings.

16 Responses to “Pay or go to jail- Magistrate tells VG man who assaulted woman”

  • NICK (13/11/2019, 09:42) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    $1000 fine for assaulting a women is not enough.
  • Come on (13/11/2019, 12:37) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    $1000.00 WHAT A JOKE.
  • VG (13/11/2019, 13:41) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    PUNK!!
    • Sick (14/11/2019, 00:52) Like (1) Dislike (11) Reply
      If i tell you who is the Punk is you would not like it. why everyone have to be so negative when its not anyone related to them? But anyways it over with so for those of you waiting to see him go Balo keep waiting.
  • WHAT!!!! (13/11/2019, 14:13) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can violence against women ever stop here if it is a $1,000.00 fine?? DISGUSTING
  • Concerned (13/11/2019, 14:39) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about the safety of the VC? Is there a restraining order? Seems like she is just left in the open while this guy gets a slap on the wrist. Were the sentencing guidelines followed?
  • Lord o (13/11/2019, 15:43) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    What the lady receive for been violated..Is this $1,000.00 going to her? I would really like to see people who violate other people body be made to compensate them...I do hope she get some kind of compensation... These violations against people must be discouraged..
    • Nagico (14/11/2019, 00:55) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply

      Compensation for what. when the man breed her a$$ i ain't see him sitting down in Balo and she was a minor at the time. you don't always get what you want from life.

      • faith (14/11/2019, 09:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

        Is that any of your business? If it were you, would you be so ignorant of the fact that the man assaulted her with a vehicle and his bare hands? She is not the first minor to get pregnant and she sure as hell would not be the last. The young lady did the right thing in reporting his dumb @$$.

  • Diana (13/11/2019, 17:05) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    @Lord O & Others
    Any fines issued by the courts goes to the Government Treasury. They cannot just up a give it to anyone as they see fit. If the VC wants to be compensated for her injuries, she has to file a separate lawsuit against him. In refence to protection, she could ask that a restraining order be issued and the perpetrator be asked not to have any contact with her or her family concerning this matter.

    On another note he needs counselling on anger management and how to treat a lady and others. She should get some to deal with any issues arising from this attack.
  • Charley Rose (13/11/2019, 20:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This Is a very serious matter and I think the Magistrate was lenient with the young man since he is a first offender. The matter is one that needs the intervention of the Social Development Department to provide social counselling sessions for the youths in the territory.

    Some of these youths were raised by single parents who are facing insecurity and inadequate resources to provide for them. As a result they are left to provide for themselves with no supporting structure. I am very sorry for them. However, I firmly believe that more need to be done for the youths and the Social Development Department should intervene immediately to assist the youths and their parents in order to curb this social problem.
  • NezRez (13/11/2019, 21:53) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    She had tire marks on the back of her leg. He ran her over with his bike, the same as with a car, it is a vehicle. He could have killed her or mangled her legs for life. She do need to sue his A$$ too for bodily harm. $1000 for running someone over, threatening their life and choking her is so insulting. This guy is a PUNK and a walking time bomb. His so called girlfriend better wise up and dump this chump before he kill her for wanting to leave him. I hope she is successful in suing him and getting an order of protection. I know too an order of protection is just a piece of paper and does not physically stop an idiot from approaching the victim again. She needs BIG MALE RELATIVES to handle this PUNK!


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