…chutney sensation in wife-beating case to return to court today
POPULAR local chutney sensation, Mahendra Ramkellawan, of  `Dem A Watch Me’ fame ,  found himself  being watched last night by the police in whose custody he was forced to spend the night, despite a stirring plea from his attorney . Ramkellawan, 35, also a promoter, appeared yesterday before Magistrate Leslie Sobers at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, to answer a charge of `assault causing actual bodily harm’ committed on his wife Samantha  Ramkellawan, on August 17 last, at their 77 BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara, residence .
He is to re-appear in court this morning.
At the initial call-up of the case, only the virtual complainant, his wife of nine years, and Defence Attorney, Manoz Narayan, representing the singer, turned up. The chutney sensation was not there.
When the magistrate asked about the absence of the defendant, the court was told by the attorney that he had earlier spoken to his client who had said he was on his way from Berbice, where two shows featuring local and international artistes were held over the weekend.
But the Magistrate noted that Ramkellawn was fully aware that he was to have been in court yesterday, and should have made every effort to be there.
He advised that the lawyer should get a message to the defendant that he must be in court before the break for lunch.
At this point, the lawyer told the court that both parties have reconciled their differences, and as such the virtual complainant did not wish to give evidence against her husband.
But the magistrate maintained that the defendant, nevertheless, should be present in court.
The matter was set aside to allow Ramkellawan time to make his appearance, which he did at 11:15hrs.
When the matter was again called, the charge was read to the defendant to which he pleaded not guilty.
After offering an explanation on behalf of Ramkellawan, and apologizing to the court on his client’s behalf, the attorney again reminded that the defendant did not wish to proceed any further with the case against her husband.
Court Prosecutor Shellon Daniels, at this point, referred to  abrasions which were evident on the wife’s body when she arrived at the police station, and that a medical certificate was issued to substantiate this.
She noted, too, the seriousness and prevalence of such offences against women.
Magistrate Sobers reminded that the court has to take notice of the prevalence of women being battered, and even murdered.
Attorney Narayan spent close to half of an hour seeking to present a case so that bail could be granted to his client. One of the reasons being, that, one of the Berbice shows had to be postponed and will be held this weekend.
“I am mindful to remand him for one week …. but I don’t want to ruin him financially… he will be out with enough time to hold his show,” the Magistrate said, adding too, that he does not want to drive a wedge between the two parties since the court was told that they have reconciled their differences.
Magistrate then told Ramkellawan, “You cannot go about beating your wife… there are other ways to address differences.”
The Magistrate, before remanding Ramkellawan into police custody for the night, said he will address the issue today.