Fight for property lands family in court

A family dispute which escalated into a brawl over a house and land has ended with five members of a Princes Town family, including a retired police officer, appearing before deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington on assault charges. Retired police constable Salim Nazim Shah, 53, his wife Yvette, 49, and their son Shane, 25, appeared in the San Fernando First Court, charged with assaulting Magdeline Balkissoon, Yvette’s sister, causing actual bodily harm.

Shane, who is on $35,000 bail, was charged separately with assaulting his cousin, Kerry-ann Balkissoon, 22, and beating and assaulting his uncle Omardath Balkissoon, causing actual bodily harm. Student Kerry-ann Balkissoon who was represented by attorney Ainsley Lucky, appeared before Wellington, charged with maliciously wounding her 75-year-old grandmother, Jean Dewan, while her father, Omardath, who is on $35,000 bail, was charged with maliciously wounding Salim Nazim Shah. Kerry-ann is also on $35,000 bail.

All the incidents occurred on November 20 at a property where both families reside at Mt Stewart Village, via Princes Town. After reading the charges to the family members, Wellington asked police prosecutor Ramdath Phillip if the matter was a Princes Town case to be transferred. Phillip said, “No.” The family members, who were charged by WPC Roxanne Paul, will return to court on February 1, 2011. Police reports state that on November 20, an argument erupted between the relatives and Magdeline was struck on the head with a shovel and a piece of wood.