A long-standing family feud turned violent when a 25-year-old cosmetologist and her brother-in-law hurled glass bottles at each other, leading to their arrest and subsequent court fines.
Charged: Shawn Walton
On Friday, Orianna Hercules of Lot 3665 Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and her brother-in-law, Shawn Walton, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Both were charged with the offence of throwing missiles, while Hercules faced additional charges of using abusive language and breach of the peace.
Following their guilty pleas to throwing missiles, they were each fined $10,000 or risked serving seven days in prison.
Hercules, who pleaded not guilty to the additional charges, was placed on $20,000 bail: $10,000 for each of the other two charges.
According to Hercules, the incident occurred on February 19, 2025, at Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, when she was preparing her child for school while speaking to the child’s father.
Walton, her neighbour and also the brother of her child’s father, allegedly stepped outside and confronted her.
Charged: Orianna Hercules
“You always, leave this man alone…,” Walton reportedly said to Hercules, sparking an argument.
Hercules told Magistrate McGusty that Walton then picked up bottles and threw them at her, striking her in the stomach and on her hand before they fell and shattered, causing injuries to her leg. In retaliation, she alleged that she picked up one of the bottles he had thrown at her and threw it back at him.
When asked to explain his side of the story, Walton, however, presented a different version of events. He told the court that he had been feeling unwell due to food poisoning and was attempting to rest when he heard Hercules talking loudly outside. He claimed that she was making noise and discussing inappropriate topics.
“She was talking about somebody and their buttocks and she was exposing herself,” Walton stated.
Frustrated, Walton said he stepped outside around 7:30h and asked her to be quiet, but the argument escalated. He admitted to throwing two Guinness bottles at Hercules in response to her shouting.
Before the matter was heard, Magistrate McGusty asked Walton if he wished to dismiss the case against Hercules, to which he initially agreed. As both parties prepared to leave the courtroom, the Magistrate then turned to Hercules and asked if she wished to dismiss her complaint against Walton. However, Hercules declined and insisted on pursuing the matter.
Since Walton had already moved to withdraw his case, the Magistrate advised that he continue with his case against Hercules.
When the Magistrate asked Walton about his plea, she reminded him that during his previous court appearance on February 21, he had pleaded not guilty to the charge of throwing missiles. However, after recounting the events in court on Friday, his admission made it clear that he was guilty.
After being informed of this contradiction, the Magistrate asked Walton if he wished to change his plea. He agreed and changed it to guilty, after which he was fined $10,000 or seven days in prison.
Hercules, having already pleaded guilty to throwing missiles but not guilty to the other two charges, was also fined $10,000. She was placed on $20,000 bail for the abusive language and breach of the Protection Order charges and was additionally placed on a peace bond.
With both parties penalised for throwing missiles, the case is not yet over. The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 28, 2025, when statements regarding the remaining charges against Hercules will be presented.
