Man sleeps in car to avoid girlfriend

A man who pleaded with a judge to give him a letter of exemption that would allow him to sleep in his car during curfew hours to avoid his girlfriend, had his request denied.

Nymshy Barrett pleaded guilty to breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) last Thursday when he appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The court heard that officers on patrol saw a man standing on the roadway but as they approached, he went into a car and closed the door. When the officers asked why he was on the road, it is alleged he told them, "Officer, a me babymother me come give a money." Barrett told the court that he was sleeping in the car to avoid confrontations with his girlfriend.

Avoid the argument

"Your Honour, this girl go weh for over a year and me just a see her back. Me and her nuh really make up because is a different girl she catch me in the house with, so me a try avoid the argument with her ... so me deh in the car a try avoid her, and me tell her fi go home," he explained. When Cole-Montague asked if he was still sleeping in the car, Barrett said yes.

"So me nuh know if you can give me a piece a paper until she go weh or something to really show the police dem seh me can gwan sleep in car; because, to tell you the honest truth, Your Honour, me just want she leave me alone," he pleaded. Cole-Montague clarified if he was requesting a letter of exemption, similar to what is given to essential workers.

"Yes, Your Honour, I'm so sorry. I know I'm doing something wrong, but I don't know if you can have some leniency on me. I know I'm breaching the curfew order," he said.

Cole-Montague told Barrett that she could not provide him with a letter that would allow him to sleep on the road, and stressed that he needs to resolve the issues with his supposed girlfriend. She imposed a fine of $40,000 or six months' imprisonment for Barrett. He was given two weeks to pay the fine.