A 65-year-old businessman from St Andrew, Robert Bell, has been charged in connection with a brutal road rage attack on a nurse that was captured on video and widely circulated online. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, May 13, has sparked national outrage and renewed calls for stronger action against gender-based violence.
According to police, the nurse—an employee at the University Hospital of the West Indies—was on her way to work when her vehicle was blocked by Bell’s. A confrontation followed, during which she was physically assaulted. A video of the encounter shows a man beating and stomping the woman while allegedly holding a firearm. The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. in St Andrew.
A report was made to the police, and Bell was arrested shortly after. His licensed firearm was seized. On Saturday, he was formally charged with:
- Assault occasioning bodily harm
- Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm
- Assault at common law
- Possessing a firearm with intent to commit a first schedule offence
- Possession of a firearm with intent to cause injuries
His court date is currently being finalized.
Following the release of the video and the subsequent public outcry, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, condemned the incident in strong terms.
“What we witnessed in that video was a bully, a coward, and a brute attacking a defenceless woman while holding what appears to be a gun,” she said. “The savagery seen in the video goes against everything that we stand for in Jamaica.”
Minister Grange emphasized that “there is no excuse for abuse” and urged that Bell face the full weight of the law. “There has to be severe consequences for violence against women,” she added, pledging support to the victim.
The Advocates Network (AN) also issued a statement condemning the assault and calling for the case to be handled with transparency and impartiality, amid public concerns about socioeconomic privilege influencing the outcome.
“Tuesday night’s vicious assault of a nurse has left many Jamaicans reeling,” the AN said. “We are calling for this case to be handled transparently and for justice to be fairly and impartially delivered.”
The group also referenced several recent high-profile attacks against women and girls, including the rape and murder of 9-year-old Kelsey Ferrigan, the sexual assault of two schoolgirls in St Catherine, and the discovery of the body of 20-year-old UTECH student Anisa Dilworth, who went missing after taking a local taxi.
“These incidents cannot go the way of politician George Wright,” the AN warned, referencing a previous scandal involving alleged domestic violence. “Only swift and sustained action to end gender-based violence will start to bring some semblance of safety and security back for Jamaican women and girls.”
“No more silence. No more violence,” the group concluded.
