Domestic abuse: One woman’s story
It is one of our society’s dirty little secrets that you won’t find in any tourist brochure. Like incest, rape and sexual abuse of children, domestic violence is a criminal act that occurs often, but is seldom reported, let alone discussed in the press. But today one badly battered woman decided that she couldn’t take it any longer. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has the story.
Martha Palma, Abused Victim
“I am tired of it, and I got hurt, and every night I am in pain with these things. And I don’t think this is the way to show my daughter how to live. He cut my daughter in her hands at the said time he did this to me. I want to tell any woman who live their life the way how I live mine, please try to get out of it before it’s late. I try, but I can’t, because he threatened my life whenever I try to leave to leave him.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
A lover’s name tattooed on her arm will not be the only permanent reminder of a relationship gone violently bad. Thirty-two year old Martha Palma will now carry the scars of a savage beating suffered at the hands of Emerson Elijio on the night of September tenth.
It was not the first time Palma has been has been physically abused during their twelve year relationship, but this most recent attack has left her in the K.H.M.H. with a broken left foot, fractured jaw, cut to the right ear, and several bruises to her body. Palma, who does not remember the attack, says she was found unconscious by her brother, and it was not until she woke up in the hospital that family members informed her how Elijio had struck her repeatedly with a two by four as her son and nephew watched helplessly.
Martha Palma
“My son come and tell me, he seh, “Mommy, dah wah big four by four ih wap up yuh with.” He seh but he mi can’t help because then he mi wah get it too. So he gone call my brother. When my brother come, he meet me pan the ground di bleed pan a mattress. How I reach on the mattress, I noh know I deh on the mattress.”
Palma says even though she has tried to leave, it was fear that kept her coming back.
Martha Palma
“Always, but he always go after me. I go to P.G. he goh deh after me. I gone dah Women Against Violence and I hide from ah and he finds me when I come back out wah thing and he cause problems with me. Always.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What you think is different this time?”
Martha Palma
“This time what different is because I wah leave him for real, because when I leave from here I am going out. I don’t want to repeat where I am going, because maybe he will be the one listening on the news. But I am going somewhere, and after when I feel lee better, I am away.”
Each week the police Family Violence Unit in Belize City receives about twenty cases of abuse. Corporal Marcia Moody is the Head of F.V.U. Moody says when a complaint is made there are specific steps they take to address the incident.
Cpl. Marcia Moody, Head, F.V.U.
“First we ask for the address, where we need to go. We visit the scene, we go there, we ensure that the victim is safe and if there is children involved, we need to get that also sorted out, the children must also be safe. We also look at the injuries the person received, if there is we need to get that person to get a medical treatment at the doctor, whereby we issue a police medical form for that person. We also try to get witnesses who are willing to give us statements, to substantiate the complainant’s report in case the person requests court action. We also try to determine what is the crime committed, what is the offence. And thereafter, we will get a statement from the virtual complainant and then we will know exactly where we go from there.”
The police may also visit the victim in the hospital to get a statement and observe whatever injuries have been sustained. Around forty-five percent of the cases F.V.U. receives eventually make it to court, although just how many of those are actually prosecuted is not known, because sometimes by the time the case reaches court, the victim choose not testify.
Cpl. Marcia Moody
“The public is aware that it is crime and they are reporting it more often than they normally do. They would ask for the court action, which is the police duty to proceed on to court. But sometimes, although it will reach the court, it may not get a positive response, because maybe by the time it is actually heard, the person may have already changed her mind.”
Usually the victim is persuaded or threatened by the abuser to drop the case; a situation Palma admits has been taking place with her. According to Palma, Elijio has been calling her at the hospital, trying to convince her not to bringing any action against him.
Martha Palma
“He stay call me and tell me mek I noh let the police charge him and he will give me a thousand dollars and he will take care of me, he noh gwine from around me until I get better and thing. I noh want that, because he dah only mouth, he only like sweet-talk me because he knows that I easy. So I decide to noh hear nothing from him. Every minute he calls me and try to come in, but I tell the security them, don’t let him pass. Because any time I see him, I just feel to take something and stab him and get myself in trouble.”
However, Palma has given a statement to the police who have issued a warrant for Elijio’s arrest. Once detained, Elijio will be charged with grievous harm. Moody says there is no sensible reason why anyone should stay in an abusive relationship.
Cpl. Marcia Moody
“Cases come here where the complainant will ask for court action, they will ask for us to speak to the perpetrator, or asked to be referred to maybe the Family Court to get a protection order. In some cases we have a complainant who has economical situation that they need to consider. We have Women’s Department who are there to assist in getting a job, job training. They offer courses in sewing, computer, speaking Spanish, and all different types of things that the complainant is there that can assist themselves.”
Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
If the abused person has nowhere to go, then a safe house is offered. The Family Violence Unit, which is located at the Queen Street police station, is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
