A 21-year-old hairdresser, Jessie James, is receiving treatment for severe chemical burns in Trinidad and Tobago after being attacked by two women who doused her with acid. The assault occurred after the women accused James of socializing with men they knew.
According to Galia Noel, James’ aunt, one of the attackers posed as a client and lured James to a location in Belmont under the pretense of a hair appointment. On Wednesday, James was met by a woman who claimed to be a relative of the client and taken to a secluded area, where she was confronted by the two assailants. During the altercation, the women accused James of interacting with men they knew and threw two steaming cups of an unknown liquid at her before fleeing the scene.
James screamed for help and was assisted by two bystanders who took her to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where she remains hospitalized. Noel described her niece as a “gentle, soft soul” who did not deserve such violence. She revealed that James suffered burns to her eyes, lips, and the softer parts of her face, with one eye severely affected and her vision impaired.
Noel expressed deep disappointment that women would carry out such a vicious attack, stating, “Whoever did this is a hypocrite because they’re trying to damage another woman. Even if whatever they accused her of is true, they didn’t decide to have a civilised conversation, they attacked her in the most gruesome way because this could have been worse.”
Police have taken a statement from Noel, and investigations into the attack are ongoing. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice, highlighting the need to address violence against women and ensure the safety of individuals in the community.
