Accused of smudging dog faeces in girlfriend’s face
A MAN has been accused of smudging dog faeces in his seven-month pregnant girlfriend’s face during an assault at his home in Lucan.
It is also alleged that when she went to wash it off, Kelvin Gandiwa punched his girlfriend, who fell into a bath.
Blanchardstown District Court
He was remanded on continuing bail at Blanchardstown District Court when Judge Gerard Jones refused jurisdiction in the case.
Mr Gandiwa, aged 24, with an address at Castlegate Way, Lucan, is charged with assaulting his girlfriend, causing her harm on February 8, 2021. The charge is contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
He has not yet entered a plea.
Sgt Maria Callaghan said the DPP directed summary disposal on a plea of guilty only. In a summary of the state’s evidence, Sgt Callaghan said it was reported to gardai on February 8 that a pregnant woman had allegedly been assaulted.
The alleged victim then arrived at the station and said the accused had assaulted her at his house.
Sgt Callaghan told Judge Jones the complainant was seven months pregnant at the time.
The woman told gardai the accused had “smeared a bag of dog faeces into her face and hair while they were having an argument,” Sgt Callaghan said.
The woman had said she went upstairs to wash it off and the accused followed her and threw the same bag of dog faeces at her.
She further alleged that he struck her in the face with his fist and she fell backwards into the bath tub.
Judge Jones said he was refusing jurisdiction and adjourned the case to late June for the service of a book of evidence. Defence solicitor Anna Bridegman said legal aid had already been assigned.
