WHEN he appeared Tuesday before City Magistrate Ann McLennan, 36- year-old Gavin Primo of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to employing threatening behaviour against Samantha Ferina on December 8 at Commerce Street, Georgetown, and of unlawfully assaulting the same Ferina on the same day and at the same time in question.

Police Prosecutor, Dinero Jones told the court that the virtual complainant and Primo were in an eight-year-long relationship which they terminated two months ago, and on the day in question, Ferina was in a Route 50 minibus when the defendant approached her and demanded that she exit the bus. He allegedly scrambled the VC by her hair and pulled her out of the minibus. Ferina managed to escape and seek protection in the bus, but Primo picked up a bottle and threatened to lash the VC with it. However, public-spirited persons came to her rescue.

The matter was reported to the police, and Primo was arrested and charged with the offences.

Primo told the court that Ferina had thrown him out of the house, after their years of being together, because he was in love with somebody else; but on the day in question he was just trying to talk to her with a view to their working thing out and getting back together.

The prosecutor did not object to bail for Primo, but requested that the defendant stays away from the VC. Primo was placed on $10,000 bail, and was bonded to be on good behaviour and to keep 50 feet away from the virtual complainant.

The defendant will make his next court appearance before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty on December 15.

(Clestine Juan)