Woman in love triangle charge fined $20,000 for assault

Two women appeared on Wednesday in the Georgetown court of Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty to answer charges of assault stemming from a confrontation rooted in a love triangle.

Javshanna Gonzalves of Hadfield Street, Lodge, Georgetown has been charged with assaulting Alicia Myers. Gonzalves pleaded guilty to the assault charge, and when asked to explain her actions, stated that she lives at the address with her partner of seven years and their two young children, aged one and three.
She explained that Myers, who also claims to have a relationship with her partner, came to her home and knocked on the gate to call for him. Gonzalves said Myers’s actions were disrespectful, prompting her to confront the woman.
She admitted to pushing Myers in the face, but denied punching her, contrary to Myers’s claims.
Myers, who appeared virtually, told the court that she had gone there to return a toolbox to the man, and she was sitting in her car with him when Gonzalves approached, picked up a piece of wood, and allegedly punched her in the face.
Myers also admitted that she has a relationship with the man, further complicating the situation.
The magistrate questioned Gonzalves about her actions, emphasizing that her behaviour could have led to her being separated from her children. While acknowledging Gonzalves’s frustration, the magistrate advised her to control her temper and resolve conflicts in a more mature manner.
Given Gonzalves’s guilty plea and her responsibility as a mother to young children, the magistrate decided not to impose a custodial sentence on her, but instead fined her $20,000, with an alternative of one month’s imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
Gonzalves has also been required to sign a bond to keep the peace and avoid further contact with Myers.
The magistrate has reminded Gonzalves of the importance of setting a positive example for her children, and urged her to avoid similar confrontations in the future.
She also advised both women to have a conversation with the man involved, as they both appear to be in a relationship with him, and she further advised them to decide how to move forward in such a situation. (G9)