Women fight over cardboard

Two women who fought over a piece of cardboard were freed of charges when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

Sandra Francis and Nadine Blake, both vendors in the downtown Kingston business district, were both charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In the case against Francis, Blake reported that she asked a delivery truck driver who was parked near to her stall for a sheet of cardboard. Blake reported that she was holding the cardboard when Francis walked up to her and held on to it. The truck driver indicated that he already given the cardboard to Blake but Francis replied “A dis me want” and proceeded to slap Blake on her hand.

A fight then ensued and both women received bruises and swelling to their faces. After the police report was read in court, an amused Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montaque said, “This fight is over a piece of cardboard? Ladies, you see how that sounds ridiculous.”

Both women nodded in agreement. However, Blake contended that, since the incident, it has been tense between them.

“She throw word from morning till evening,” Blake told the court. But the women told the senior judge that they are willing to mediate the matter. Francis informed the judge that she received a punch to her eye and is seeking compensation of $4,000 from Blake for the medication she bought. Blake paid the full sum in court and both women were admonished and discharged.

“The matter finished now. Don’t come back,” the judge cautioned.