Man jailed for beating woman he loves

HE TOLD the magistrate that he loved his ex-common-law wife whom he gave all his earnings and had even consulted with a priest in the hope of reviving the relationship with her. However, yesterday 42-year-old carpenter Ralph Rampersad was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with hard labour after pleading guilty to robbery with violence against Zaniffer Mohammed.

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Sonia Aleong in the San Fernando Second Court. According to Court Prosecutor Cpl Joey Samaroo, Rampersad went to Mohammed’s La Romaine house on July 28. During the visit, a quarrel broke out between the two and Rampersad dealt Mohammed a blow to her head which resulted in a five-inch laceration. He then took a purse valued $50; $500; three gold earrings together valued $450; a pair of spectacles worth $800 and a Trinidad and Tobago identification card from Mohammed. She reported the matter to the San Fernando police station. PC Bacchus of the San Fernando CID subsequently arrested the defendant at Ramlal Street last Sunday. Rampersad pleaded with the magistrate and still admitted that, in spite of the events which brought him before the court, “I really love my wife.” Rampersad said that he only kept “a little money for himself and maybe to smoke a cigarette.” Apart from this, he said he gave her all his money. However, Magistrate Aleong was unmoved by his impassioned pleas and imposed the custodial sentence on Rampersad.