CLEOPHUS Hope denied that he displayed threatening behaviour to his common-law wife of 27 years when he appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the New Amsterdam Court.

The 56-year-old was placed on $25,000 bail, and is expected to return to court on September 13 for trial.
The alleged offence is said to have been committed after Celestine Reid insisted that her nephew must remain at the family home at Lot 4 Martin Luther Scheme in New Amsterdam, as he contributed to the payment of the bills.
Police Sergeant Phillip Sherrif, prosecuting, said that on July 14 last, as the complainant was exiting a bedroom, the defendant allegedly told her that he did not want the younger male living at the home; but after the complainant insisted that the position would not be changed, the defendant became annoyed, armed himself with a cutlass, and threatened to chop her.
Reid consequently became afraid and reported the matter to the Central Police Station, and charges were thereafter instituted.