A local businessman was found guilty of assaulting his employee by the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Friday.
A local businessman was found guilty of assaulting his employee by the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Kevin George Gornall (61), who is in the carpentry business, assaulted his employee Cynthia Ralose in October 2009. According to the charge sheet, Gornall threw a piece of wood at her, which hit the complainant, and banged a door against her. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. He told the court that he did not intend to hit the complainant.
On Friday, magistrate Ronnie Lesele found the accused guilty and sentenced him to pay a fine of R1000, or in default of payment to undergo three months imprisonment. Delivering his judgement, Lesele asked if he did not intend to hit the complainant, why did he not throw the piece of wood in the other direction. He rejected the evidence of the accused as false. He said the complainant did not sustain any physical injuries, and the incident must have caused emotional scars. “The offence was committed against a woman, and courts are taking into consideration the offences committed against women and children,” he said.
Gornall paid the fine and was a free man.
