A man who slapped a child in the face in a primary school in St Mary has agreed to pay $50,000 in compensation to the child’s parent. The presiding magistrate suggested the amount was too high. The $50,000 was agreed between complainant and defendant in a case of aggravated assault brought before the Port Maria RM court on Thursday, July 24. Charged with aggravated assault is Joslyn Anderson. The court was told that on March 8, 2012, Anderson slapped a male student of the Robin’s Bay Primary School on the left side of his face. He court was told that Anderson slapped the student after the child reportedly hissed his teeth when he was spoken to. This happened in a classroom in full view of other students. The police said that under caution, Anderson said that he knew that he was wrong but the child did not have any manners. Anderson’s attorney, Nadine Guy told the court that mediation was attempted but was “never facilitated.” She further indicated that the parent of the child didn’t want the case to progress any further hence the sum of $50,000 was agreed on to, according to her, preserve the peace. RM Collins was not in agreement with the sum of money and stated that mediation was for compromise and that both parties could have looked at a more reasonable sum. She said if such sum was considered then the child received “an expensive box.” The RM said: “I don’t consider such as mediation and I am trying to bring myself to the point of writing ‘mediation successful’… I cant say it was successful.” Anderson is to pay the money in three instalments and before the matter comes up in court on October 23.
