Pregnant woman beaten at church - Elders had to pull other female away

An argument between two female members of the Bethel Town Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Westmoreland, turned ugly recently and resulted in a physical confrontation at the church.

This was revealed in the Whithorn Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, where one of the women, Nashara Gordon, 24, appeared on charges of unlawful wounding and malicious destruction of property.

The court learnt that the incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. just before the start of the afternoon session of Sabbath worship in front of church elders who had summoned both women to a meeting to quell their differences.

It was revealed that on Saturday, December 28, 2013, Gordon was on a grave in the church yard when she was called into the vestry by church elders to discuss her differences with the complainant, a pregnant 39-year-old Susan Webster. But no settlement was reached and an argument started between the women.

The court heard that Gordon bit the pregnant woman's finger, kicked and hit her and tore off her blouse. It was further heard that the sisters of the church had to hold the irate Gordon and pull her away.

Gordon, a merchandiser with no previous conviction, pleaded guilty before Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes, and was fined $50,000 or six months for unlawful wounding and $10,000 or three months for malicious destruction of property.

The court was also told that some four weeks after the incident, Webster lost her baby and further medical and investigations are to be conducted to determine if Gordon will face charges.