A 48-year-old Devonshire woman pleaded guilty in Magistrates? court yesterday to assaulting a Canadian visitor in Dockyard two weeks ago.

The court heard how Maxine Vivian Smith had approached Anna Maria Arruda as she sat on a bench near the ferry stop at Dockyard on the afternoon of April 21. Crown counsel, Graveney Bannister said according to police statements, Miss Arruda heard Smith say something, but when she turned towards her and responded with ?pardon me? Smith swung out at her and struck her against the head with a sharp object.

Mr. Bannister said Miss Arruda fell to the ground and Smith then proceeded to jump on top of her and punched and scratched her. Miss Arruda was treated for a deep gash to her forehead which required seven stitches, as well as bruising and scratches to her face and throat.

Smith, who was represented in court by Leo Mills, admitted that she was on Dockyard on the afternoon in question, but said Miss Arruda had called her a ?black bas***d? and had started the fight.

?She jumped up and scratched me on the face and beat me,? she said. Mr. Bannister told Acting Senior Magistrate Tyrone Chin that Smith was on medication for her ?illness? and handed him a medical report.

As Mr. Chin read the report, Mr. Bannister told the court that Smith had ?a history of doing things? when she was not on medication. Standing with her hands crossed and her head slightly bowed, Smith mumbled: ?That?s not true. I don?t usually carry on like that.?

Mr. Bannister suggested a psychological evaluation, warning that Smith?s behaviour ?could be worse next time?.

As Smith continued to mumble and appeared to become agitated, Mr. Chin had to calm her down by telling her that Mr. Bannister was merely trying to help her. He ordered two medical reports and a psychological evaluation before sentencing her on June 15.