Barbados Today

A 26-year-old man, who cursed his grandmother and damaged her property, will know his fate on December 19.

When Abayomi Yohannes Lopez, of Belfield Land, St Michael, appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today he denied assaulting Janelle O’Neal on September 7, occasioning her actual bodily harm.

However, he owned up to destroying a cordless phone belonging to Janice Hoyte without lawful excuse on November 25.

The prosecutor revealed that Lopez was arguing with his younger sister on the day in question about her failure to collect his daughter from nursery.

Hoyte reportedly interjected saying that it was his responsibility as he was the child’s father, which resulted in him cursing his grandmother.

She then called Lopez’s mother to inform her about his behaviour, but he snatched the device and slammed it into the ground before leaving the house.

“I was angry. My grandmother was telling lies about me on the phone,” Lopez said as he tried to explain his behaviour to Cuffy-Sargeant.

However, his explanation did not sit well with the magistrate who informed Lopez that Hoyte had a right to say what she wanted in her own home.

She also asked him if his behaviour on November 25 was indicative of how he treated his grandmother.

“No Ma’am, I love my grandmother,” he replied.

“I am disappointed in the way you treat your grandmother,” the magistrate replied.

Today Sergeant Cameron Gibbons also objected to Lopez’s release on the grounds that he was already on bail from the court for a charge in connection with the same complainant.

On that basis, the prosecutor said there was need to protect the complainant before “a more serious matter” developed.

However, in his defence, Lopez said he and the mother of his child were currently on speaking terms and he had to take care of his daughter.

Nonetheless, his application was denied.