National footballer Jonathan Abel, can count himself lucky after his girlfriend, whom he had beaten in January 2013, decided she was not going to offer any evidence against him in the matter.And while the prosecution lead by police inspector Claude Weekes, was forced to withdraw the matter against Abel, he pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and battery on police and was given a $1,000.00 suspended fine for 1 year and in default, 6 months jail.
Abel was seen chasing the young lady in Goodwill near the AID Bank and was confronted by an alert police officer. The woman was lying on the ground and when he was approached and questioned by the police, Abel attempted to run away. The 18-year-old young lady had been beaten into an unconscious state by Abel and had to be taken to the hospital.
Lawyer Ronald Charles, made a mitigation plea on Abel’s behalf asking the court not to impose a custodial sentence on him. Charles said he viewed the incident as “unfortunate” and stated that his instructions were that Abel was “very remorseful for his action and was under the influence of alcohol.”
But chief magistrate Evelina Baptiste, seemed unimpressed by Abel admission pof remorse and told him that at no time should he raise his hand on a woman and described his actions as ‘inexcusable.”
Abel then offered to give an open apology to his girlfriend in court, “I am very sorry for my behaviour towards you, I want to be a role model and am sorry for my actions and won’t let it happen again,” he said.
Baptiste cautioned him and admonished him to guard his behaviour. “Where are the role models in the community, the adults are exhibiting very bad behaviour. We have a high level of that behaviour in the community and something needs to be done,” she said.
Boy that woman giving it to me so how is she going to be an example what will she tell people about the incident? The man alone that has to be and example? oh my God Monkey knw what tree they climbing. she should make an example out of him by pressing charges, so he will think twice before doing it again and trust me he will. girl if i ever get to knw who you are i will tell you more in person OU TOH SORTE!!!!
I would want to know if this was the only time he beat her, if he did it more than once then she needs to get out of this relationship. A woman beater is a coward, has low self esteem and is a looser. if you all cannot get along, call it quits.
This lady must be thinking with her “what”? You are beaten into unconsciousness by the man who claims to “LOVE” you, and you decide not to testify. I shudder to suggest this but if you remain with this guy, worse things will come.
And he should be suspended by the Football association FORTHWITH.
No wonder police are hesitant in getting involved in domestic matters…and 18 years girl you’re still a child, mister will do you worse than that if you insist on that relationship, you got the beaten once maybe not the first time, and you dropping the matter??, there’s a case similar to yours and the girl still getting blows like ” south africa beating west indies ”
Chic no woman was designed for blows,Jesus took enough before and on the cross for you and all of us!
What all-u expect na? A young girl he beat into an unconscious state, is not marijuana they catch him with, then the judge would really punish him.
The outcome of this case is absolutely ridiculous given the beating that was inflicted on the victim. The lady has let down herself and women folk. It is time that the law be changed to allow the State to continue prosecution of domestic violence cases regardless of whether the victims want to cooperate or not. I agree with the blogger who suggested that he should be suspended from the national football team.
way papa a man touches a woman buttocks and gets six month in jail,another beats a woman unconscious and walks away with a warning what a country.
but if they girlfriend wont press charges against him what can the magistrate do? Why do we continue to blame the PM or country for every Living thing that happen?
yes dominica.we are just getting better
“She was not going to offer any evidence against him.” I wonder why??? He appologized to her in court. We don’t know what he told her prior to make her not want to testify against him. But he’ll be back. She better stay far away from this Monster. They always blame it on de Belfast Special.
Even if the victim refused to give evidence the matter should not have been withdrawn. The police statement was enough for a trial. Sadly we don’t have education about domestic violence on island for women’s organizations, victims, law enforcement & judiciary. The victim should have been encouraged to seek & receive counseling that would help her understand that if he got away he would repeat it to her or another woman. Its a cycle and he would need a few mandatory classes while imprisoned or on probation for him to consider his behavior.
See him in six months with a more serious charge when will we learn?????
Dominica is really behind the rest of the world when comes to the protection of women, it is for those reasons that men in Dominica continue to beat their women, in most other parts of the world the case would be between the state and the coward, the woman would be a witness but if she decided not to testify if someone else saw the crime or the evidence proved him guilty he would be dealt with, it is high time that we stop allowing things like dependence on a man or intimidation to allow these cowards to walk free because all that does it promote violence, because some family member might seek retribution, I know if you beat my sister, in the hands of the law would be the safest place for you, the judge will be doing you a favor by locking you up…. Coward arrogant men of Dominica, it is time to leave these woman alone if you cant get along with them.
Wesleyman, when you say these words, “I know if you beat my sister, in the hands of the law would be the safest place for you, the judge will be doing you a favor by locking you up” you are exhibiting behavior just like him cause your sister would be doubly victimised with you locked up & feeling guilty that she got you in trouble. THINK B4 U TALK/ACT
and then one day he may be in court for murder. this time the girlfriend wouldn’t have the option not to press charges
Jonathan, I am your cousin. You have not seen me in a while because I have been overseas for a while and no one told me about this but I asking you to check your behavior.
You young men need to behave yourselves. I agree with the judge, we lack role models and you are a potential role model as a national footballer so you need to begin to think seriously about your life. And what you did to that young lady was not macho at all in fact only little boys in grown men’s bodies beat women. Be a big man and face life like one.
And that goes for other young men in our society too.
I will be checking on you cousin and I expect to hear better things.
See you when I get home soon.
Do u think that he will make himself available to read what u are saying to him?
Well, I can only hope so.
all of a sudden where you come out?? like really?? and on dno u want to come and play part family? you should have been there from the get go. maybe if you showed more interest in the past he’d have a better role model and wouldn’t have done what he did. save your crocodile tears and your cries for attention on dno…call him and say what you have to say to him not to the rest of dominica and the rest of the world. for now it’s just falling on deaf ears….that is if you’ll remember to check up on him afterwards….keep me posted
I sympathize with you, you had nothing else to say. Perhaps if you knew our family and the circumstances I would have wasted more words on you…
In the USA he would be suspended by the sports organization for his actions on and off the field.
This is absolutely outrageous. That’s why men continue to abuse women. You were left unconscious and yet still do not want to testify. The fact is a policeman saw what happened so there should be no need for this young lady to give evidence. If domestic violence is against the law it is against the law and should be prosecuted whether the victim wants to testify or not as long as there is evidence. In that case there was a witness. I will have a daughter one day and i willjbe the judge jury, pr
that’s the law of the land, the victim must testify, if not the case will be withdrawn for want of prosecution
Law of the land needs to be amended. It is not write in stone that is what parliament is there for
We have a culture of tolerance towards domestic violence against women in DA. The fact that this woman was beaten unconscious in the street and this guy was given a slap on the wrist. It’s shameful that the Magistrate being a woman just tells the guy “DON’T RAISE YOUR HANDS ON WOMEN AGAIN” Once a thief, always a thief.
such a joke apology,these cowards keep on getting away,they have not tried one of my family member.theywont have the opportunity to apologize.again the court system is a joke in this country.