Woman from St Lucia ‘injured in row over underwear’

A St Lucian woman on holiday in Barbados left a lingerie store bleeding after an argument with the shop manager.

Danvela Emmanuel, who was in Barbados with four friends, told District A Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that she ended up suffering a wound to the head after she got into a verbal dispute with Janeil Tranette Christopher, 32.

During the heated exchange, Christopher allegedly threw a “scotch tape holder” and a staple machine at the victim], who said she had entered the Swan Street store with her friend and finding the underwear she wanted.

Her friend, who wanted a similar item, decided to try on the piece of lingerie.

It was then that they reportedly turned to Christopher, who was working at the till, for assistance. However, she was apparently busy conducting a card transaction for one of two other customers.

No language barrier

After waiting for “15 minutes”, Emmanuel said she decided to ask the cashier whether she could pay for her purchase in cash as she had exact money.

“She told me to wait,” Emmanuel said.

The St Lucian then turned to her friend and said in Creole: “After we waiting so long she is rude in her mother ***.”

It was then that Christopher informed Emmanuel that she had understood what had been said, and two women began trading insults in Creole.

At that point that Emmanuel decided she no longer wanted the garment and “threw it on the counter”.

“I walked away and felt something hit me to the back of my head. When I turned around and looked on the floor I saw the scotch tape holder. I picked it up and sent it back at the cashier, but it miss,” she told the magistrate.

“My friend then came and pushed me and a staple machine came flying right next to us,” she added.

On exiting the store, Emmanuel realised she was bleeding and reported the matter to police.

As a result, Christopher was charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Emmanuel on 5 August.

During a lengthy cross-examination by Christopher’s attorney Vonda Pile on Wednesday, Emmanuel was adamant that even though she threw the garment on the counter while it was still on its hanger, she never hit Christopher.

However, she did admit to asking for her item to be cashed before two other customers who were ahead of her.

Her friend and witness corroborated her story.

However, when the case resumed in court the St Lucian visitor, who was scheduled to take the stand for a second time, was a no show.

The matter, which is being prosecuted by Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls, was therefore adjourned until November.

Original source: Barbados Today