DOUBLE assault defendant Winston Benjamin, 30, of Lot 407 ‘B’ Field, Sophia, though granted bail on one charge, was remanded to prison on the other.

He had pleaded guilty to both but, after hearing him and one of the virtual complainants, Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson changed his pleas and transferred the cases to another Court for January 26.

Benjamin is charged with assaulting his reputed wife, Roslind Gibson and her friend, Elizabeth Wong, on Main Street, also in Georgetown, January 20.

He told the Court he had pawned his cell phone to Gibson’s brother to get money for her but, although an argument developed between them, he did not hit either virtual complainant.

But the woman Gibson said it was when her brother demanded the return of the $7,000 loan that Benjamin became annoyed.

She said he wanted to take back the phone without repaying the cash and slapped her twice when she asked him for what he had borrowed.

She said Wong intervened and she, too, was assaulted.

Benjamin was ordered to post $10,000 surety on the Wong assault charge but was refused pre-trial freedom on the other, with respect to Gibson.