And we are also seeing the effect of the recent string of femicides at the magistrate's court where, today, a man was denied bail for a domestic complaint.
Toney White was arrested after his ex-common-law wife took her domestic complaint to social media, claiming she got no help from the police. When the police did respond, she reported that he threw a coconut at her, and that he also made pointed threats: saying he would kill her, her kids and her mom, and also threatened to burn down her house.
Now, though extreme, these types of complaints are not infrequent in the lower court. But, right now, the Court is taking no chance. And so this morning, 31 year old White was remanded after he was read three criminal offenses: aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument, namely a dry coconut; threat of death to Raisha Nicholson, and threat of damage to property.
The police prosecutor objected to bail, noting the prevalence of the crime. Though White made a plea for bail, Magistrate Mannon Dennison was not convinced and noted that the threats were specific and that there is a rise in matters of a domestic nature. He acknowledged that while bail is a right, the court must err in the direction of caution, and denied bail. He told White he can apply at the High Court.
