Assault charges have been dropped against two women who had an alleged 'cat fight' over a dog.Maryellen Goodwin, a Crown counsel, is understood to have been suspended from her post in the Attorney General's chambers as a result of the incident, which is said to have taken place on December 5 in Smith's parish.

Ms Goodwin and Claire Lee-Osbourne, both 43, are said to have been involved in a fight over Ms Osbourne's pet dog.The Royal Gazette understands Ms Goodwin allegedly injured the Doberman by hitting it with a stick, and this led to a confrontation between the pair at Ms Osbourne's house in Hermitage Road.

Ms Goodwin however, has claimed Ms Osbourne attacked her.Both denied assault at a Plea Court hearing on May 4, and Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner they should face separate trials

.Yesterday however, Mr. Warner dropped the case following an application for a 'Nolle Prosequi' by the Crown.

This is an application to suspend criminal charges for 12 months.The Crown did not have to indicate to the court why the 'Nolles' were entered, because the assault charges are technically still pending.

The Department of Public Prosecutions retains the right to bring Ms Goodwin and Ms Osbourne back before the court anytime within the next year.

Yesterday Mr. Warner said: "The defendants are dismissed, the case is discharged."Afterwards Ms Osbourne, who works in private-sector finance, told The Royal Gazette: "No comment." But her lawyer Mark Pettingill said: "I am happy that this was dropped.

I don't think my client should ever have been in court."Ms Goodwin, of Verdmont Valley View, Smith's, was unavailable for comment.

She was appointed to the Attorney General's chambers in 2007 after having worked as a Department of Environmental Protection compliance officer and a reporter with The Royal Gazette.Yesterday, a colleague at the Attorney General's chambers said Ms Goodwin had been reinstated. "She is still employed with us," said the co-worker.