A Tobago man, convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend when she tried to end the relationship after finding him kissing another woman, has been fined and ordered to pay compensation. 

Mickhail Bowen’s trial for assault occasioning actual bodily harm before Justice Gail Gonzales in the Tobago Supreme Court began on Monday. It ended the following day with him being convicted by a nine-member jury. 

In sentencing Bowen, Gonzales ordered him to pay the victim, Corrine Alleyne, $10,000 in compensation or face six weeks in prison. 

Bowen was also given three months to pay a $5,000 fine. If he misses the deadline, he would have to serve 18 months in prison. 

The charge stems from an incident at Bowen’s Glen Road, Scarborough, home on June 26, 2012. 

According to the evidence in the case, Alleyne went to Bowen’s home to drop off food when she caught him kissing another woman. 

Alleyne cursed him and threw away the food before leaving. 

She claimed that Bowen followed her and confronted her near the garage. 

She said she told him to leave her alone as she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him. 

Bowen reportedly challenged Alleyne to repeat her previous statement before grabbing a metal rod and hitting her on her back as she walked away. 

Alleyne collapsed, and Bowen hit her seven more times on her head, legs, and back before leaving. 

Alleyne managed to retrieve the improvised weapon, which Bowen dropped before leaving, and made a report to the police. 

Testifying in his defence during the trial, Bowen claimed that Alleyne, who was “bigger” and older than him, instigated the fight, and he merely defended himself. 

He also denied being caught kissing another woman. 

Also testifying in the trial was PC Kern Phillip, who took the report from Alleyne and had her identify the metal rod she claimed she was beaten with. Phillip also interviewed Bowen. 

“That is not how it happens. I hit her with it but not really to do her nothing,” Bowen reportedly told Phillip. 

Frank Peterson represented Bowen, while Indira Chinebas and Kanissa George prosecuted the case.