Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett was at a loss on Tuesday, in deciding what to do with a case of domestic violence involving a mentally ill couple.
John Wiltshire of Redemption Sharpes, an out-patient of the Mental Health Centre (MCH), admitted to beating his common law wife Veronica Haynes, also an out-patient of the MCH.
The Court heard that Wiltshire was in the habit of beating Haynes for sex, and on March 30, around 9pm, he entered her bedroom and asked for sex. She refused.
She reported the matter to the police, resulting in Wiltshire being arrested and charged.
Wiltshire told the Court that Haynes was his girlfriend, and their relationship started while they were both patients at the Mental Health Centre. They have been living together for the past four months at his home.
The Senior Magistrate expressed the view that mentally ill persons are entitled to have intimate relationships too, as they are human beings, but considered the case before him to be special.
“I am sorry because persons come to Court for the Court to fix everything, but I am wondering how I could fix this one.
“Because both of them are special, they are going to go back to the same situation. He is going to beat her again,” Burnett opined.
Wiltshire said that March 31 was Haynes’ birthday, and he was going to give her some money for her birthday, because he had recently won one of the National Lottery games.
“I don’t want to trivialize the matter. The matter was reported to the police, but I am contemplating, reprimanding and discharging,” he Magistrate said.
“Mr. Wiltshire, don’t hit her. If you hit her again and come back before me, I would not reprimand and discharge you again,” he warned before reprimanding and discharging Wiltshire.
(The Vincentian)