Prisoner begs Magistrate not to jail his neighbour who ‘buss’ his head

Two men fist bumped each other in court after one was spared a prison sentence when the other man whose head he ‘buss’ with a bottle, pleaded to the court on his behalf.

Serano Phillip, 28, appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, November 18, 2024 before Senior Magistrate, Tammika Mckenzie, where he was charged that on December 27, 2021 at Lowmans Bay, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Shawn Tannis of Lowman’s Bay.

The facts are that Phillip and Tannis know each other very well, but they are not friends. Around 2:45 pm on the date in question Tannis was in his yard when he overheard his girlfriend, Kelvern Williams, and Phillip arguing by the public road.

Williams left the road but Phillip followed her, still cursing. Phillip returned shortly after with a cutlass in his hand and tried to attack Williams. Tannis stepped in and managed to get Phillip to leave his yard.

However, Phillip struck Tannis in his head with a bottle and the matter was reported to the police. After the facts were read, Phillip told the court that the incident was caused by a “little misunderstanding” and that he was intoxicated.

However, Tannis told the court that he does not want Phillip to go prison because “all ah we make a little mistake”, and that he is also serving a prison sentence because he allowed alcohol to get the better of him, the same way that Phillip was intoxicated during the time of the incident.

He said if Phillip was sent to prison, they would both just be watching each other. However, Tannis advised Phillip to “behave yourself and don’t drink no more tea. Stop drink tea, drink juice.”

Tannis, whose one year sentence will end in March 2025 told Phillip that the way the country is going(with regard to crime), even prisoners are asking for extended sentences.

Tannis also pointed out to Phillip that he is the one who would always tell him [Tannis] to stay out of trouble but now he is serving a prison sentence.

The Senior Magistrate told Phillip “if you can’t handle rum, you’re supposed to leave rum alone.” She ordered Phillip to compensate Tannis $1,000 by March 7, 2025.

Failure to do so, will result in one year in prison. Phillip also was fined $500 to be paid in one month, or spend one year in prison. He was to pay $50 forthwith or spend two weeks in prison. Phillip also was given one year prison sentence, however, the sentence was suspended for one year.

The men fist bumped each other at the end of the sentencing.