Stepfather assault case sent to restorative justice after Kingston court hearing

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A stepfather facing an assault charge involving his stepdaughter has been steered toward restorative justice after appearing Tuesday before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Shuwayne Crawford is accused of assaulting a female. Prosecutors say he struck his stepdaughter after claiming she had hit a younger sibling.

Presiding Judge Peter Wilson characterised the case as a family dispute. He observed that the old proverb “Spare the rod and spoil the child” no longer reflects accepted practice.

The girl attended the hearing with her mother. Wilson asked her whether anger management sessions or counselling would help her. Noting what he took to be a displeased look, he told her to “fix” her expression and not make her thoughts so obvious on her face.

She replied that her face always looked that way. The judge answered that she needed to “fix that” and drop the attitude.

Crawford’s bail was continued and the matter was sent to restorative justice. He is due back in court on October 30, 2026.