Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey offered parental advice to one of two women who were involved in a fight that developed from an argument.

Renee Francis and Shelly-Ann Mullings, who were charged with unlawful wounding, left with only words of advice and a warning yesterday.

It is alleged that Francis came to Mullings house with her baby, indicating that Mullings should keep the child until the child's father arrives. Mullings said that she was busy doing some work and could not keep the child at the time. It is claimed that Francis put down her child and ran to her car.

had a struggle

Mullings said she chased her, trying to prevent her from leaving when they had a struggle by the car.

Although Francis did not object to this claim, she said she called the child's father and told him that she was going to leave him (the child) by his aunt.

Francis told the court that she came to Jamaica from England to spend four weeks and wanted her son to spend some time with his father. However, this was not the case as the child's father is always busy, so she wanted to ensure that he spend some time with him.

Pusey told Francis that she should not have left until the child's father was present since it is her child too. The RM told the accused that a child is a full-time responsibility until he or she is 20.

"Parenting is a full-time job for 20 years," said Pusey. She told Mullings that Francis' anger was not directed at her but she got in the middle of it.

Francis said that she has learnt her lesson and was disappointed in the outcome of the matter.