Two Layou men found themselves in the Kingstown Magistrate Court last Friday, one charged with assault causing bodily harm and the other nursing injuries to his arm.
Orian Johnson, a 32-year-old labourer, pleaded guilty to assaulting Dexroy Springer on November 9, 2022, in the yard of his home.
In presenting the facts of the case,Prosecutor Curlene Samuel told the court the two men knew each other and were friends from the same village.
A viral video had been circulating in which the virtual complainant and defendant were reportedly identified.
As a result, persons in the community were reportedly teasing and laughing at Johnson and according to him, certain claims made by Springer caused him to be thrown off a minibus.
On the day in question, Johnson went to Springer’s yard to confront him armed with a stone.
When Springer saw that Johnson had a stone in his hand, he ran. Johnson threw the stone and it struck Springer on the left arm resulting in swelling.
Senior Magistrate, Rickie Burnett questioned Springer on compensation to which he replied, “I feeling okay.”
Springer’s mother, from the back of the court, interjected to speak on her son’s behalf.
The prosecutor ordered that the woman be removed from the court and while being escorted, she told the Senior Magistrate, “he not too good” while motioning to her head.
“She is suggesting that the son has issues up here,” the Senior Magistrate told the court.
Before he delivered the sentence, Burnett considered that Johnson had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
The Magistrate ordered that compensation be paid to Springer in the amount of EC$500 by December 31, 2022.
Failure to pay will result in a two-month prison sentence being imposed on Johnson.
He was also placed on a one year bond and if that is breached Johnson will be required to pay EC$1,500 forthwith to the court or spend three months in prison.
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