A man accused of beating up his younger female cousin because he believed that she 'carried news' to his child's mother, was sternly reprimanded and made to apologise to her in open court on Tuesday.

Trimane Palmer appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm, to which he pleaded guilty.

likkle friction

The court was told that Palmer accused the complainant of telling his babymother things about him. He told the court, "Is mi likkle cousin, your honour, and mi an har have a likkle friction."

Palmer, in his apology to the complainant, said, "I am sorry for what happened and I hope it won't happen again", prompting rounds of laughter from those in attendance. The complainant was also warned by Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey to keep her mouth "out of people's business." She, however, said she had done nothing. Palmer was allowed to go after a scolding.