Ex common-law wife accepts compensation, saving man from jail

A South Rivers man who pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his ex-common law wife has been ordered to pay compensation.

It was Selena’s Moore willingness to accept compensation from Stevan Chewitt that granted him the privilege of leaving the High Court without being chained in cuffs.

Chewitt appeared at High Court #1 before Justice Brian Cottle where he was charged that on July 15, 2022 at South Rivers, he attempted to murder Selena Moore, also of South Rivers, a woman with whom he had a common law relationship for two years.

The offence was committed using a cutlass, and as a result, Moore sustained chop wounds about her body.

Chewitt appeared before the court yesterday for sentencing, after his social inquiry report was submitted.

The report stated that members of his community know him to be of good character and they found that the offence for which he was charged was not consistent with character.

Upon sentencing, Cottle told the court that the maximum sentence for this offence is life imprisonment.

The court found that there was premeditation and planning prior to committing the offence.

Justice Cottle then placed the offence of attempted murder in the range of 45-75 per cent of the maximum sentence and then began with 66 per cent of 30 years as the starting point for sentencing.

The court also found that there was an element of domestic violence, and so Cottle added two years to Chewitt’s sentence, resulting in a notional sentence of 22 years.

Chewit is a first time offender, and it was found that his actions were “completely” unexpected, and so the court deducted four years from his sentence, resulting in another notional sentence of 18 years.

The court also considered Chewitt’s early guilty plea and offered him a one-third discount. The court also offered a discount for his time spent on remand, resulting in a final custodial sentence of 11 years.

However during the court proceedings, Moore said that she is “willing to accept compensation,” and Chewitt is also “willing to abide” by Chewitt’s offer.

As a result, Chewitt received a suspended sentence of three years. If he commits an offence that is punishable by over six months imprisonment within a timespan of three years, he will serve the three-year custodial sentence.

He was also ordered to compensate the victim in the sum of $10,000 or in default, he will serve one year in prison.

Representing the crown was Crown Counsel Cornelius Tittle, while lawyer Grant Connell served as counsel for the accused.