Woman Ordered to Pay $9,000 After Violent Attack on Retired Teacher

A woman in her early thirties has been ordered to compensate a retired teacher after a violent late-night attack inside his home left him with serious injuries.

Veyella Peters was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with the November 28, 2023 incident. The court has since directed her to pay $9,000 to the victim, a man in his sixties.

Evidence presented during the judge-only trial outlined how the pair became involved after meeting on public transportation, eventually forming an intimate relationship that led to Peters moving into the man’s residence. However, the arrangement was not permanent. The retired teacher had made it clear that her stay depended on his employment situation.

When he later secured a position at a Christian school, he asked Peters to leave. She remained, 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 already injured, with blood coming from his neck. During the struggle that followed, he sustained additional wounds to his face.

Medical evidence confirmed the severity of the injuries. A doctor told the court that the neck wounds were about three centimetres deep and consistent with the use of significant force.

The victim also claimed that after the incident, he attempted to seek medical attention without involving law enforcement, but Peters prevented him. He alleged she took his phone and falsely indicated she was contacting emergency services. Phone records later showed no such call had been made.

Peters, in her defence, denied the allegations and offered a different account. She claimed the man had previously been her teacher and accused him of predatory behaviour. She told the court that a confrontation occurred after she returned home to find her room had been interfered with, and that she acted in self-defence during the altercation.

The court rejected her version of events. The judge found the complainant to be credible and noted inconsistencies in Peters’ claims, including the man’s denial that he had ever taught her.