Yam stealing accusation lands man in court

courtA man who accused another of stealing his yams and who went on to stab him will have to source $2,589 to avoid going to jail.

However, Gibbs Carbon, 40, of Mahaut will first have to pay $40 within a week as compensation for the victim’s shirt, while the balance of the money must be paid within five months or he will face the slammer.

Carbon pleaded guilty to battery, wounding and malicious damage to 48-year-old Fontaine Benjamin of the same community. The incident occurred on February 6, 2016, at about 8.30pm at The Lab in Mahaut.

According to the facts of the matter, Carbon accused Benjamin of “stealing his yams” and confronted him at The Lab. After grabbing Benjamin’s shirt, he used a pair of scissors and stabbed him in his back.

Benjamin was transported to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) where his wound was stitched and he was discharged. Carbon was arrested by the police and in his explanation, he said, “Benjamin slapped me and I pricked up.”

He was warned by the magistrate Bernard Pacquette about his behaviour and was told that he could have been facing a charge of murder.

“You could have killed him,” Pacquette said.

He was fined $1,000 for wounding to be paid in three months or in default face three months in jail. He was ordered to pay compensation of $1,000 to Benjamin in one month or face one month jail time. He was fined a further $500 for malicious damage and $40 for the damaged shirt.

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10 Comments

  1. Jayson
    February 14, 2016

    Well, i can currently afford to stab 3 people in DA, so i’m putting my list together. $3000 for permission to stab…not a bad deal at all…smdh! :-x

  2. February 14, 2016

    Both men broke the law.

    If somebody steals my yams does that give me the right to stab him? Benjamin should have been repotted to the police. We have no right to take the law in our own hands. It is the responsibility of the police to deal with thieves.

    Was Benjamin charged for stealing the yams? Did he repay Carbon? Was he fined?

    A few yams may be small stuff but I would not want somebody to steal mine. Theft is still theft. The public must be made to know this will not be tolerated.

    One sin – small or large – stains the soul. We have all committed more than one sin. O.K., I will speak for myself. I have sinned more (much more) than once. The Bible says “…the blood of Jesus Christ (God’s) Son cleanses us from ALL sin.”(1 John 1:7) Christ died for us. He died to pay for our sins. We are saved by believing that His death paid the price for us!

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

    • Anestine
      February 15, 2016

      Rev:
      There were no details given on the proof that Benjamin did actually steal the yams. Speculation did not help Carbon. Further, did Carbon report the theft of his produce – a real problem in the agriculture sector

  3. Truth iTell
    February 13, 2016

    Dominica is experiencing a food shortage. No reason to attempt to kill over a piece of root.

  4. Concerned Citizen
    February 13, 2016

    That’s what happens when we take the law in our hands.It end up and cost hin more. He now has to pay the alleged thief pay the court and still loss the yams. He now has to go through the right means of finding and proving the thief….. How sad

  5. Face the Facts
    February 12, 2016

    Some people take the Law into their hands. When you do, the Law will not be on your side. He did not exercise patience and curbed his temper.
    You accuse the man of stealing your yams. You should have shown proof and took him him to Court. First of all, report it to the Police. You should not have attacked him. This is against the Law.
    In future, let the Court handle your suspicion and accusation. You could also have had witnesses to corroborate them. In so doing, you would not have found yourself in this situation.
    It looks like they will be enemies for life. For peace sake and for their good, I hope they both stay away from each other. If they meet I hope they also have nothing to say to each other. This is one way of handling their indifference. Pretend the other does not exist. If both practice this, they can never get into trouble with each other.
    If not, make amends. Holy Scripture: “As God forgives you, you should forgive one another.”

  6. fun&frolic
    February 12, 2016

    Hmmm, so he not only lose his yam, he now has to pay for his hotheadedness. And I’m sure the amount he has to pay is more than the value of his lost yam. I yam sorry, but you need to think before you act pardna.

  7. Little papa
    February 12, 2016

    This Gibbs needs a mental evaluation, he is not normal, he really needs help. Just by speaking to him one can tell that he has a blown fuse.

  8. anonymous2
    February 12, 2016

    These people have no remorse.

  9. Music Producer
    February 12, 2016

    LOL, I prick him…? you stabbed the dude,

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