Two Greiggs women imprisoned for slashing teenager’s face

Paige Baptiste and Lesha Johnson, both of Greiggs, appeared at the High Court before Justice Rickie Burnett on Tuesday June 12, 2024, where together they were sentenced to just over 15 years in prison for wounding with intent. The offence was committed on January 29, 2020, at Greiggs against Ziannie Charles, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident.

Two Greiggs women, who caused another woman to undergo surgery after chopping her in her face and stabbing her in her forehead, have been sentenced to combined total of more than 15 years in prison.

Paige Baptiste, then 17, and Lesha Johnson, then 20, both of Greiggs, appeared at the High Court before Justice Rickie Burnett on Tuesday June 12, 2024, where together they were sentenced to just over 15 years in prison for wounding with intent. The offence was committed on January 29, 2020, at Greiggs against Ziannie Charles, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident.

The facts read that on the date in question, between 6:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m, Charles went by her friend, Sabisha Benson’s home to seek her assistance to get a ride to the Biabou Police Station to make a report against Johnson and Baptiste. She was accompanied by some friends, including Kia Haywood, and Aboni Edwards.

While they were in Benson’s porch waiting for the ride, Baptiste and Johnson along with two friends, Malika and Lavene, were walking up the road in the direction of Charles and her friends. Baptiste and Johnson stopped at a 3D booth located in a yard in close proximity to Benson’s porch. When they left the booth and were walking past Benson’s porch, Baptiste began “throwing words” at Charles saying, “Murdoo ah war put a pickney in a lap and feed dem fuh nah come a road, and watch nuh, ah you me want.”

Charles replied, “well come nuh”. Baptiste and Johnson continued walking up the road making threatening remarks saying that Charles had to walk in front of her gate to go home, and when she does she will beat her with a shovel, and that she had better take another route instead. Baptiste and Johnson went to Baptiste’s home, collected a cutlass and headed back down the road.

In the meantime, Charles and her friends joined another friend, Akeem Fergus who was sitting on Maxine Nero’ steps. While there, Baptiste and Johnson returned, and Baptiste was armed with a cutlass in her right hand, while Johnson had a knife. Baptiste went directly onto the steps where Charles was and stood in front of her, while Johnson stood behind her.

Baptiste told Charles, “Look me now, do me what yo say you will do me, “ to which Charles responded, “well, Paige do me way you want do me.” Baptiste pushed Charles, causing her to make contact with Johnson, who then held on to Charles. A fight then ensued. While fighting, Baptiste was ‘planning’ Charles with the cutlass, while Johnson was pelting stabs at her, one of which caused an injury to Charles forehead.

As the fight continued, Baptiste held the cutlass aiming to stab Charles. However, her friend Malika, pushed her causing her to fall and the cutlass fell out of her hand. When Baptiste got up she saw that Charles had the upper hand in the fight, she pushed Malika telling her to move because she has to chop Charles in her face.

Baptiste lifted the cutlass and slashed Charles in her face. Consequently, Charles was hospitalized and had to undergo surgery to repair the injuries she sustained, which healed with a permanent scar.

Investigations were carried out into the matter and Baptiste and Johnson were arrested. In an interview conducted, both young women gave an account of the attack. Baptiste said that she confronted Charles with a cutlass, she planned her in her back while Charles and Johnson were fighting. At one point, Baptiste was about to stab Charles with the cutlass but Melicia pulled her away.

The women were initially charged for attempted murder. However, the charge was reduced to wounding with intent. When sentencing, Justice Burnett considered that Charles suffered physical and psychological harm. Charles was depressed, particularly when taking selfies, and resorted to using marijuana to manage her depression.

Charles received a six-inch laceration from the right side of her nose to her left eye. She also received multiple chop wounds to her face and wrist. Justice Burnett said that the injuries left scars on her body “that will remain for a lifetime”.

In her victim impact statement, Charles said that people would ask her to remove her glasses so they could see the scar on her face. “I hate that. Whenever I see the scar, I instantly become depressed. It is a constant reminder of how I almost lost my sight,” Charles stated. The maximum sentence for this offence is life imprisonment, or 30 years in prison.

Justice Burnett considered that a knife and cutlass were used in the commission of the crime. He also considered that the offence was premeditated and there was a threat of violence. Therefore, he began sentencing at 18 years in prison for both accused. Aggravating of the offence was that it was committed in the presence of others.

Mitigating of the offence was that there was significant provocation against Baptiste, so her sentence was reduced by three years. However, Johnson’s sentenced remained the same. Baptiste and Johnson had no aggravating factors. Mitigating of them were their previous good character, their remorse, and their lack of maturity. Therefore, four years were deducted from both their sentences.

In light of the guidelines for offenders under age 18, Baptiste received a 2/3 discount from her sentence. She was therefore sentenced to seven years, and four months in prison. Johnson’s sentence was reduced by five years to reflect her criminality in the matter, and to do overall justice in the matter. She was therefore sentenced to nine years in prison.

The women had already spent three months and 14 days on remand. Therefore, Johnson will serve a remainder of eight years and eight months and 16 days in prison, while Baptiste will serve a remainder of seven years and 16 days in prison.