Brother must pay for striking sister with cutlass over food

A young man who used a cutlass to strike his half sister after an argument over items of food that were not his, was fined and ordered to pay compensation.

Krishna Richards, 24, of Chauteaubelair, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John yesterday, April 25, 2024, where he pleaded guilty that on April 6, 2024,at Chateaubelair, he assaulted his sister causing actual bodily harm.

Richards was also charged that on April 24, 2024 at Chateaubelair, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded his father with intent to do so.

Richards was not required to plea to the latter, indictable charge. It is alleged that Richards used a cutlass to chop his father.

The facts with respect to the assault charge, presented by Prosecutor, Renrick Cato, stated that the virtual complainant in this matter knows Richards quite well.

Richards and his sister have been living in the same house. At about 12:45 p.m on the date in question they both were at home and got into an argument.

They argued about food items which Richards was using that did not belong to him. Richards and his sister had a heated exchange where they used derogatory words against each other.

Richards was cutting up chicken at the time using a cutlass. He got annoyed and struck his sister on the left side of her body with the cutlass.

He then ran to his bedroom and locked the bedroom door. His sister went outside the house, armed herself with a shovel and started to call Richards out of his bedroom.

However, Richards remained in the bedroom. His sister reported the matter to the police and Richards was later arrested.

During an interview with the police, Richards gave a statement admitting to the offence. He was later charged for assault causing actual bodily harm.

Richards had no previous convictions.

When the Senior Magistrate asked Richards why he had struck his sister with a cutlass, Richards said that she is actually his half sister, and that she “always take advantage of me, physically and verbally”.

His caution statement read that on the date of the offence, “Me decided to cook something. Me take out some…chicken for it to ice out and…[my sister] start to tell me to make sure tell me mother, I cooking off she chicken before me take the chicken out the fridge”.

The statement said that he proceeded to wash off the chicken and cut them up using the cutlass, when his ‘half-sister’ pointed a knife in his face and began threatening him, “say she go stab me up and kill me.”

They began arguing, then Richards said in the statement that he struck her with the cutlass and ran into his bedroom. He then heard his sister beating on the bedroom door “with something heavy,” while saying that she will kill him if he comes out. However, Richards remained inside the bedroom, and his sister left the bedroom door some seconds later.

After the statement was read, Richards said that he had no issue with the facts as presented by the prosecutor.

When he was asked, he told the court that he is unemployed and that he has been searching work but has been unable to find any.

He said he had been employed but was laid off due to reports made that he was causing arguments at his workplace.

Senior Magistrate John fined Richards $300 to be paid in one month, or face three months in prison.

Richards was also ordered to compensate his sister in the sum of $300 in one month, in default of which he will serve three months behind bars.

The prosecutor asked that the court remands Richards into custody for one week, as his father is still in hospital stemming from the alleged incident with him and his father.

Senior Magistrate John granted Cato’s request and adjourned this matter to June 5, 2024.