Graham fined $1K after badly beating wife

A man who reportedly beat his wife in public more than two years ago escaped direct imprisonment when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court today, February 28.

Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo fined Liston Graham $1,000 after noting positive reviews from a Partnership for Peace counsellor.

Graham was sent to the counselling programme earlier.

Ahead of being sentenced this morning, Graham told the magistrate that he has ‘learnt a lot’ from the programme.

As such, Magistrate Baptiste-DaBreo fined him $500 for common assault, and another $500 for being armed with an offensive weapon.

Graham has until March 31 to pay both fines or he will serve 60 days in Her Majesty’s Prison.

What happened

The prosecution had reported that Graham, his wife, and a female friend went to a party at Foxy’s, Jost Van Dyke, on February 8, 2015.

While there, Graham made ‘loud comments’ to his wife.

She ignored him.

Some two hours later, the wife and her friend left the party.

While they were walking away, Graham reportedly attacked his wife from behind.

He reportedly hit her, causing her to fall.

He then used a whip to strike her several times over the body, the court further heard.

The wife’s friend intervened.

The wife subsequently went to the friend’s home.

That did not prevent Graham from running into the said home, where he reportedly started another round of beating.

It was also reported that Graham threw water in his wife’s face, and verbally abused her.

The wife eventually escaped and reported the matter to the Jost Van Dyke police.

She was also medically examined and found to have what the prosecution described as ‘severe weal marks’ on the face and upper body.

When Graham was taken into police custody, he admitted to beating his wife with a whip.

He was subsequently charged.

Graham, in court today, said he and his wife are still together.