Woman given absolute discharge after fight

A 22-year-old student was today given an absolute discharge after she admitted taking part in a fight.

Brandi Bassett was at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club with friends ReAna Harris and Akilah Smith on December 27. Ms Harris got into a fight with the complainant at 2am. The court heard that Ms Bassett and Ms Smith intervened and began punching the woman and pulling her hair. The four women were separated by members of the public but a short while later, another fight broke out between the complainant and Ms Harris.

Again, Ms Bassett and Ms Smith got involved.

After the altercation had finished, the complainant went to the Hamilton Police Station and reported the incident. She also went to hospital where she was treated for multiple abrasions to her face, a sprained jaw and contusions to her upper lip.

All three women were arrested and appeared in court onFriday.

Ms Bassett denied taking part in a fight  but changed her plea today. Ms Harris denied the same charge and Ms Smith denied unlawfully assaulting the complainant and causing her actual bodily harm.

Addressing the court, Ms Bassett apologised for her behaviour and said: “It was totally out of character. I’m due to go back to school to finish my master’s tomorrow.

“I just want to apologise for my actions.”

Ms Bassett told the court she is in her final semester at Barry University where she will obtain a Master’s in social work.

But Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Ms Bassett that she should know better, especially with her line of work.

“I expect that someone of your background and education would behave better than this in terms of controlling your emotions even if you consider your friend to be under attack.

“You know that this isn’t the correct response.”

Mr Warner gave Ms Bassett an absolute discharge and told her to go back to Miami and finish her Master’s.

Ms Harris and Ms Smith will stand trial in June.