A woman in her early thirties has been ordered to compensate a retired teacher following a violent late-night attack inside his home that left him with serious injuries.
According to Antigua.news, Veyella Peters was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with the November 28, 2023 incident. The court directed her to pay $9,000 to the victim, a man in his sixties.
Evidence presented during the judge-only trial revealed that the pair met on public transportation and later formed an intimate relationship, which led to Peters moving into the man's residence. The arrangement was not permanent — the retired teacher had made clear that her stay was contingent on his employment situation.
When he subsequently secured a position at a Christian school, he asked Peters to leave. She refused, and tensions between the two escalated in the days leading up to the attack.
On the night in question, the man went to bed, leaving his bedroom unsecured. He later testified that he awoke to find Peters on top of him and discovered he was already injured, with blood coming from his neck. He sustained further wounds to his face during the struggle that followed.
Medical evidence confirmed the severity of the injuries. A doctor told the court that the neck wounds were approximately three centimetres deep and consistent with the application of significant force.
The victim also alleged that after the incident, Peters prevented him from seeking medical attention. He claimed she took his phone and falsely indicated she was contacting emergency services. Phone records presented in court showed no such call had been made.
Peters denied the allegations and offered a different account in her defence. She claimed the man had previously been her teacher and accused him of predatory behaviour. She told the court that a confrontation arose after she returned home to find her room had been interfered with, and that she had acted in self-defence during the altercation.
The court rejected her version of events. The judge found the complainant credible and identified inconsistencies in Peters' testimony, including the man's denial that he had ever taught her.
