$1,000 for ‘bad blood’

A Pointe Michel man will have to pay the court $1,000 after beating his relative with a cutlass.

‘Bad blood’ has reportedly existed among the two for some time now.

Bernard Gregoire appeared before Magistrate Candia George at the Roseau Magistrate Court Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to the charge of battery.

According to the facts of the case from police prosecution, on the morning of Friday July 22, the complainant was standing on the Pointe Michel public road with a cutlass in his hand speaking to a gentleman. whilst so doing the defendant passed by and entered a shop. On his way from the shop he reportedly heard the defendant talking about money.

“What you use to do before there, you cannot do it again.” The defendant said to the complainant, then proceeded to take the cutlass from the hands of the complainant, dragged him unto the road and lashed the complainant with the flat of the cutlass on the left shoulder.

Both men reported the incident to Point Michel police almost as soon after it occured.

“Officer, the man was referring to me when he was talking about the money, I tell him doh talk about me, he doh stop, so I take the cutlass from him and I beat him,” the defendant admitted to police.

When police cautioned the defendant and informed him that he was being arrested and charged for battery,  the defendant regretted his action. “I should never trouble mister, I would never be in this problem now,” the defendant told police.

Gregoire, who was not represented by counsel, indicated that he was sorry during a plea in mitigation before the Magistrate.

In handing down the sentence Magistrate George considered that the defendant pleaded guilty and did not waste the courts time.

Gregoire will have to pay the fine before September 30 or spend three months behind bars.

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9 Comments

  1. dominican abroad
    November 7, 2011

    Pte mitchell again in the head line when is it gonna stop.the police officers need to walk the village, more community policing instead of playing dominoes all day at the police station, and chasing women.

  2. Alas
    July 28, 2011

    why is it that so many people are complaining and these people in the black robs and fancy suits are not listening to us! like seriously!

  3. Al
    July 28, 2011

    The defendant pleaded guilty and did not waste the courts time.. So i guess i can beat up someone,plead guilty and do not waste the court time and get away by paying a small fine… GREAT JUSTICE.

  4. COCOSEC
    July 28, 2011

    This is a very disturbing trend which will not stop. The reason; they all get a slap on the wrist. The man was just expressing his right to free speech, you want to take his own cutlass and lash him. Now when you get into trouble you want to say you sorry. They need harsher punishment to discourage that kind of behaviour.

  5. vip
    July 28, 2011

    we will have to include (RESPECT)as part of our school curriculum. THATS OUR MAJOR PROBLEM IN DOMINICA.THE LACK OF RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

  6. seasoning pepper
    July 28, 2011

    when i do my crime i will go to court and plead guilty. because all i’m hearing.. he pleaded not guilty and did not waste the court time!!!! so you get to pay a fine :-D

  7. Just saying
    July 28, 2011

    The money thats required to take care of a prisoner for 3 months is more than a $1000…
    So how they equate that amount of money to that amount of time is rather nonesensical.lol

  8. Omg
    July 28, 2011

    This incident was so childish in nature. Dominicans need to arise from these little petty confrontations. Children seem to be turning into adults and adults quickly returning to their childish mentality daily man. Smh.

  9. antigua
    July 28, 2011

    i lke that word, mista

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