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Woman gets fined for biting off tip of foe's finger in fight. Date published: 5/22/2009
BY KEITH EPPS A woman who bit off part of another woman's finger during a brawl outside a North Stafford hair salon last summer was convicted of a misdemeanor Wednesday. Tracy D. Burton, 46, of District Heights, Md., was found guilty of assault and battery after a jury trial in Stafford Circuit Court. The jury gave Burton no jail time but recommended that she pay a $2,500 fine. Burton, who was represented by attorney Mark Gardner, had been charged with unlawful wounding, a felony. But the jury opted for the misdemeanor. According to the evidence, Burton bit off a small part of the tip of a finger belonging to Aminata Rockliffe, who at the time was a hair stylist at Positive Image Beauty and Barber Salon on Dunn Drive. Burton had come to the shop on July 13 with her son, who was then 3. Rockliffe, who was not working on Burton's hair, testified that the child was very loud and running all over the shop. Rockliffe eventually turned up the television in what she said was a failed attempt to drown out some of the child's noise. Burton took offense and confronted Rockliffe. Monah Crichlow, who was working on Burton's hair, testified that she asked Burton and Rockliffe to step outside because she didn't want the other customers disturbed. Crichlow said she hoped the women would settle their dispute peacefully, but she said Burton made several derogatory comments to Rockliffe and put her hand in Rockliffe's face. The two combatants gave different stories about what happened after that. Burton, a social worker in Washington, said Rockliffe punched her in the face after saying, "[expletive] you and [expletive] your retarded child." Rockliffe said it was Burton who called her names and started the physical altercation. The two women ended up on the ground exchanging punches. Burton said she bit Rockliffe in self-defense. Rockliffe, who said her injured finger has inhibited her ability to do hair, has filed a civil suit against Burton. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
This is sad
A team of security people , on duty during business hours, might prevent such incidents.
The fine should have been higher for the mutilated hand. The Civil Suit jury will be shocked to see the injury, and probably award millions. She will probably lose all her customers, grossed-out as they see the horrible injury.
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