Fisherman must pay after wielding cutlass

A fisherman from Overland has been fined after pleading guilty to chopping a Canadian man with a cutlass after claiming that he was hit first in his mouth.

Davy Lewis appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, January 18, 2024, before Senior Magistrate, Colin John where he pleaded guilty that on January 6, 2024 at Sandy Bay, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Darreo Peters of Georgetown/Toronto, Canada.

According to the facts, Peters was on his way home to retrieve a key that he had forgotten and met Lewis on the way. After an interchange between them Lewis pulled a cutlass from his waist and Peters started to run. Lewis chased him and Peters fell to the ground. Peters raised his hand and Lewis chopped him on it.

The matter was reported to the police. Lewis was taken into custody. He was cautioned and interviewed, and gave the police a statement in writing. Lewis was later charged.

Senior Magistrate John allowed prosecutor, Renrick Cato’s request that Lewis’ caution statement be read to the court.

In the statement, Lewis claimed that it was Peters who passed the first blow by hitting him in his mouth. As a result, Lewis began looking around for a weapon to use against Peters, and saw a cutlass. Lewis said he picked up the cutlass and upon seeing the weapon, Peters started to run.

However, Lewis said that he changed his mind from striking Peters after some people held him back, but Peters held up his hand which caused him to get chopped by the cutlass.

“Mr Lewis, when this thing happened, why didn’t you go to the station to make a report?” John questioned.

“I was not thinking…” Lewis responded.

Asked if he had any money to pay a fine, John replied that his sister was in the courtroom. He also told the Senior Magistrate that he fishes for a living.

“Since you have no previous convictions, also that you pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, I will not send you to prison. I will charge you a fine of $1,000. You get three months to pay that $1,000. The gentleman, if he wishes, he can sue you for…injuring him…”, the magistrate said as he handed down the sentence. If Lewis fails to pay the fine he will spend six months in prison.