Max Jno-Lewis of Glanvillia Porstmouth has been sentenced to four months in prison for stealing $200 from a 68-year-old market vendor in that community last week.
“That day there I was under a little rum. Yes I did it. It was Carnival season,” Jno-Lewis told a Roseau magistrate’s court during mitigation yesterday.
Magistrate Candia George replied by stating, “I always say, if it (rum) not agreeing with you, stay away from it. It putting you in trouble.”
The complainant, Martha Seaman, who is a farmer, was vending at the Portsmouth market at about 10 a.m. on March 5 when the defendant came and reached into her apron, which she used to store her earnings. He grabbed $200 and ran away, according to the police prosecutor.
Seaman chased Jno-Lewis but was unable to catch up with the him because scaled a wall, fell into a river and escaped.
“You sure is me you see?” the defendant attempted to deny the crime when confronted by the complainant and police. He later admitted and was charged.
He is “well known” by police in Portsmouth according to the police prosecutor.
well as they say he is well known by the portsmouth police ….but do you think that 4 months will change that cronic thief. he’ll be back fitter and stronger than he was before so he can now hold up some where bigger like the police station
how much will it cost tax payers to feed and provide shelter to this man for 4 months? $200? crazy. charge him $1000 to be paid t the lady and let us move on. this is crazy.
possie doh easy lmao
If there is a drug or chemical that causes people to do widespread evil in a society, why make this drug legal? Isn’t this double standard?
He had a little rum? A little rum too much.
Big excuse which is no excuse at all. He is a thief and an inconsiderate man, to place his hand in her pocket and steal her $200.00. This is taking advantage of a woman. He underestimated her and her strength.
I could not help but laugh at some of them and this man’s excuse – a little rum that he had. So much for him and his feeble excuse 
He fell in the water? He is fortunate that the water was not deep. Consider what could have happened to him which would have been an immediate punishment, thief that he is.
Some people are bold. He was desperate and thought he could get away with it. I hope the money was retrieved and returned to her.
He is known to Police? He should be imprisoned for one year or more which hopefully would teach him a lesson – not to steal what which does not belong to him.
When he is released from prison he must be instructed to find a job and work for his money. If he commits another crime, send him back to prison for some more years.
Is Stock Farm prison expanded? Noting that there are more criminals today and increasingly so, is it able to house all of them?
I bet that the lawyers whether prosecution or defense and others who are present must get a good laugh of criminals responses and excuses or that they have to stifle their laughter.
I am concerned that in one week , two separate articles recording the direct speech of a court magistrate, reveals that she uses informal (colloquial) language to address defendants in the courtroom.
“I always say, if it (rum) not agreeing with you, stay away from it. It putting you in trouble.”
Is this the general style of the court?
I find it in poor taste.
my partner this is what makes the country happy doh come dere with ur f**&&^ … we like how we express ourselves
she’s speaking to the defendant so she has to speak to him in a way he can understand.get it?
agree wit u . u want her to use big words for the man for him to be even more confused than he already is come on man. is the same way wen u go 2 the dr u expect them to relay the info in away u can understand . somme off you just like to complain for no reason. Stupes
Not necessarily but this may be the language he speaks, so that he could understand. I fully comprehend the reason why the Magistrate utilized those words. Actually, in this case, there is nothing wrong with her usage of this language. Let us accept them due to the person she was addressing so that he will comprehend the language which he is comfortable speaking.
This reminds me of what I heard some years ago when I resided in Dominica. Recently during a course of conversation I mentioned it to a friend and the person could not stop laughing. I did say it in patois – French Creole or broken French as we called it in those days.
A Dominican man was arrested and taken to Court. When the case was called, the Judge said to him: “Tell me, ‘approximately’ how many people were there…” The man replied in patois (I am stating it in English; those who are proficient in patois could interpret it), the Judge is lying. ‘Approximately’ was not there at all.”
It is important to use language which people can understand, specifically the uneducated. There are some Dominicans who speak more patois than English. If it is necessary that the Magistrate or Lawyer has to speak patois to the accused, they should do so. It makes good sense. You must understand the situation. Common sense is to be utilized.
LOL. Good one justice. . Am I the only one who is able to translate then? Again, is TeteMorne I from…. Hahahhahahaaaaaa
after the lady work so hard to earn her $ you want to take it from her you to ruthless and you need to pay for that
rum dat do dem dat we!!!
oh my god, how big is this stockfarm prison? there’s no other way to deal with these people? sometimes these people are not criminals. some of these incidences have to be dealt with in some other form insteal of prison, prison. this is not the answer. the ones who should be incarcerated are out there merrying.
a 68 year old, boy you fast i guess 60’s is the new 50s. Personally
i think the judge should have imposed a fine of double to paid to the
defendant plus the jail time. I just hope she received her hard earned
money back.
edit -she was the 68 year old.