Reggae artiste Jimmy Riley appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday for hitting his wife.

Allegations are that on January 3, both were travelling in a motor vehicle and an argument developed between them. Riley, whose birth name is Martin Riley, is accused of punching his wife, Sandra Bramwell-Riley, in the face, injuring her. She made a report to the Stony Hill police on January 4, and Riley, 54, was arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

Bramwell-Riley told the court that this was not the first time he had hit her, and that on the day of the incident he punched her in the face and also used a knife to threaten her. She said since she made a report to the police he has been calling her "incessantly" and begging her to drop the charges.

Work it out

Bramwell-Riley said the last time he hit her and she went to the police station, the policeman to whom she made the report told her to go home and work out the dispute because it was a domestic matter.

However, Riley's attorney, Peter Champagnie, said the incident did not occur in the same manner as the complainant was claiming.

Champagnie also suggested that the matter be sent to the Dispute Resolution Foundation or for counselling. But the complainant said she was not interested in that as she had already moved out of the matrimonial home.

Serious accusation

Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown, who heard the matter, said it was a serious accusation and ordered the accused to give his fingerprints to the court. His bail was also extended until January 30 when the matter will again be mentioned.