Trio charged after Freeman Street family dispute escalates into violence

A family dispute that escalated into a violent confrontation at Freeman Street, La Penitence, Georgetown, has landed three women before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, each facing a series of assault and damage to property charges stemming from an early morning altercation.
Twenty-four-year-old Amaya Haywood, her mother-in-law Alicia Melville, and 19-year-old sister-in-law Congalisa DeSantos appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, where they all entered not guilty pleas to their respective charges.
Haywood was charged with unlawful wounding and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on her mother-in-law, Melville. She had been placed on station bail, while DeSantos is accused of damaging several household items, including a refrigerator valued at $75,000, as well as other household items belonging to Haywood, totalling $452,000.

She was also jointly charged with her mother, Melville, with unlawfully assaulting Haywood with the intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.
Haywood’s attorney, Stacy Goodings, in her submissions to the court, said her client had been enduring frequent verbal and physical abuse from her mother-in-law and relatives long before the altercation. She claimed that on the day of the incident, Haywood went to visit a neighbour when she was abused by the family.
The attorney further told the court that Haywood “had been suffering tremendously” at the hands of her in-laws, and that on that same day, the situation spiralled after Melville confronted her outside the yard, shouting at her to “come out and deal with me.”
Goodings claimed that Haywood ignored the provocation, went home, and began preparing her children for school. While ironing and making tea, Melville allegedly entered the house and began verbally abusing her. The situation escalated when Melville allegedly lashed Haywood across the head, causing her to fall to the ground. Each time she attempted to get up, she was struck again, sustaining injuries to her leg, forehead, and the back of her head.
The attorney said her client had photos of her injuries and explained that in the midst of the assault, the only thing she could have done to protect herself was to grab the pot of hot water that was on the fire. In doing so, Haywood reportedly burnt her own hands before the scalding water splashed onto Melville.
As the altercation continued, Haywood told her attorney that she tried to flee the scene, but Melville chased her out of the house, overpowered her, and dragged her by her hair.
“Your worship, my client’s hair is missing…” Goodings said. The attorney alleged that DeSantos joined in, pinning her client’s neck to the ground with a spade. She claimed that upon seeing this, a relative of Haywood intervened to stop the attack.
The violence, however, did not end there. Haywood told her attorney that when she attempted to leave for the station to make a report, her brother-in-law, Melville’s son, arrived on a motorcycle. In a fit of rage, he reportedly threw a concrete block at the side of her car, smashing the glass, and then rode his motorcycle onto the back of the vehicle, further damaging it.
Following the incident, Haywood made an official report and was later charged. Police have since launched an investigation into the actions of the son and other family members allegedly involved.
Goodings also revealed that upon returning home with her partner, Shawn DeSantos, everything in their home was destroyed by fire.
Attorney Kiswana Jeffords represented Melville and DeSantos and said that her clients told her something completely different, but it can be disputed at the trial. Jeffords claimed that she was advised that there is a live recording of the incident and that days before the altercation, Haywood made threats to the family through a video recording.
She also claimed that the home in which Haywood and her partner lived is Melville’s home.
After listening to both sides, Magistrate McGusty granted all three women bail.
Haywood was released on $250,000, Melville on $75,000 for assault, and DeSantos on $150,000 for the assault and damage to property charges. The matter was adjourned until October 17 for report and fixture.