Soldier ordered to stay away from girlfriend’s home

Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake-Powell ordered a soldier attached to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard not to return to the home he shared with his girlfriend.

Her order was one of the bail conditions imposed after the accused, Rolling Myers, appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday for a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

It was shared with the court that on March 5, the complainant, Myers' girlfriend, was at home when an argument developed about the complainant wanting to attend an event.

Myers allegedly said: "Mi ago kill yuh and mi ago bruk a plate inna yuh face and dash hot oil pon yuh."

The court heard further that Myers was warned previously by the police to leave the complainant alone. But the clerk of court told the judge that the complainant was no longer interested in pursuing the matter against Myers and asked that the court refer him for counselling, and to warn him to leave her alone.

"So do you have anywhere else to reside sir?" judge Blake-Powell queried.

"I would have to stay at jail, at JDF Coast Guard," Myers, 26, replied.

The court was informed by the investigating officer that the JDF was contacted but could not attend yesterday's sitting.

Myers was offered $50,000 bail with his own surety and strict conditions imposed. He was ordered to surrender his travel documents and not to return to the home where the complainant lives.

Myers is to reside at the Coast Guard headquarters and is to receive anger management and conflict resolution counselling at the Kingston and St Andrew Family Court, with the JDF Chaplin or elsewhere.

A stop order was imposed, and the couple was referred to alternative dispute resolution.

Judge Blake-Powell ordered Myers not to interfere with the complainant. He is allowed to communicate through an intermediary for the purpose of alternative dispute resolution or in the presence of social workers or counsellors. The judge requested that a counselling report be provided on the next court date.

Myers is to return to court on May 3.