Dad allegedly punches daughter for leaving house

Sep 30, 2023

A Corporate Area man has been detained for the past month after allegedly punching his teenage daughter in the face when she returned home late from an outing with her sibling.

It was reported that on June 9 at 3 p.m., the 17-year-old left home with her sister to purchase fish. The teen returned home at 10:20 p.m., when her father, the defendant, became irate and said, "Yuh nuh fi leave di house without me consent again."

Lawrence reportedly said further, "Bet seh me guh jail fi yuh and bet seh yuh lose some teeth." He then reportedly punched his daughter in her mouth and nose, which started to bleed.

When he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday, the father indicated that he wanted to state his plea for the charges of child abuse and unlawful wounding.

However, a plea was not taken by Parish Judge Leighton Morris as the father told the court that he does not have legal representation.

"I am very concerned about the offences that I am seeing," noted Judge Morris.

The matter was adjourned until July 13, for the father to settle his legal representation. It is expected that a bail application will be heard at that time.

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