Mother Pleads Guilty to Assault in Spat Over Daughter’s Absence
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a dramatic turn of events in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, a mother of two finds herself in the dock after a public altercation, displaying the intense emotions often involved in familial disputes.
Patrina Campbell, a mother who found herself at odds with a woman she blames for her daughter’s estrangement, has pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and assault at common law. The charges date back to a heated incident on July 2, 2024, at Papine Square, St Andrew.
According to court reports, Campbell, clearly distressed over her daughter’s choice to leave home after turning 18, confronted the complainant, a woman who had taken her daughter in. The confrontation escalated quickly outside a supermarket, with Campbell reportedly threatening the woman, spitting in her face, and pulling out several of her braids.
In front of Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell, Campbell explained her actions were driven by her daughter’s abrupt departure and subsequent silence. Since moving in with the complainant, Campbell’s daughter has had no contact with her family, leaving them bewildered and anxious.
Seeking a resolution, both parties were directed to mediation by the court. An agreement was reached, with Campbell consenting to pay the complainant $60,000 in damages. Her bail was extended, and Judge Burrell indicated Campbell must make the first payment during her next court appearance for case management on November 18, 2024.
Adding to the case’s complexity, the complainant expressed her concerns over her safety, revealing that rumors in the community implicated her husband in a heinous act. She alleged that the community had ostracized her family following accusations of her husband raping Campbell’s daughter. However, Campbell denied having any knowledge of such allegations.
“Do you know of a complaint that her husband raped your daughter?” queried Judge Burrell, pressing for clarity amid the swirling accusations.
Campbell firmly rejected any prior awareness of these claims. In response, Judge Burrell urged her to dispel the rumors circulating in the community, stating, “You need to tell the community to cut it out. I don’t care if you said it, or somebody said it. You are telling me that nothing nuh go so, so I am urging you to tell the people in the community that ‘I don’t know where you got that from but that is not true.”
The ruling underscores the court’s effort to mediate peace between the involved parties, highlighting the potential for legal resolution in emotionally charged family matters. As Campbell prepares to make amends through financial restitution, the case remains a poignant reminder of the delicate dynamics between family, community, and the law.
— Kelsey Thomas
