Purcell Estate resident David James pleaded not guilty on Friday at Magistrates’ Court to assaulting a woman in her Little Apple Bay home and inflicting bodily harm in the process.
According to Crown Counsel Chantel Flax, the victim woke up to Mr. James, 26, entering her home on the morning of March 23.
The two started arguing, “and a scuffle ensued,” Ms. Flax said.
The defendant then allegedly attacked the woman and started choking her after she fell to the ground.
While he was choking her with one hand, he hit her several times in the face with the other, Ms. Flax said. At one point, the victim lost her breath and sight for about five seconds, according to the prosecutor.
The alleged assault stopped when the woman yanked Mr. James’ hair in retaliation, Ms. Flax claimed. She said the woman then ran into a room and grabbed a can of mace and sprayed the man, causing him to flee.
But the alleged incident didn’t stop there. According to the prosecutor, the woman ran after Mr. James. When she couldn’t catch him, she returned to her home to find his blue BMW parked nearby, Ms. Flax said.
The woman then allegedly picked up a stone and used it to damage the front and back windows of the car.
After calling the police, she was taken to Peebles Hospital for treatment. According to documents read in court, officers observed bruises on her face and body.
Mr. James was arrested later that day. Ms. Flax said he told officers he was trying to leave the woman’s home and she was holding him back.
“I must’ve accidentally hit she,” he allegedly said.
Ms. Flax said there are no other known charges against the defendant. His trial is scheduled for Aug. 27.