Youth convicted for carrying knife and cannabis
Dominica News Online - Friday, May 21st, 2010 at 11:23 AM
(DNO) “Officer, somebody knife I borrow there to eat a mango just now there,” is the explanation Danny Toussaint, 18, of Mahaut gave to a police officer who caught him with a six inch knife in his possession on May 18, 2010 in Roseau.
Toussaint pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon without a satisfactory reason and possession of nine grams of cannabis which was also found on him on the same day.
According to the facts presented by the police prosecutor, on Tuesday Constable N. Alexander, who was on mobile patrol, spotted the defendant in Roseau with the said weapon. When searched Toussaint was found to have nine grams of cannabis to which when questioned, he stated, “A partner that give me a smoke.”
Toussaint has no previous offenses.
His lawyer Peter Alleyne told the court in mitigation that his client was one of seven siblings of a family who had “not been blessed with many material things”. He also stated that his client was not part of any violent disturbance.
Alleyne asked the court to temper justice with mercy and take into account his clients age and family background in sentencing.
In response to mitigation, Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste told the court: “He himself has a responsibility if he has all them siblings he should not be buying these substance…. Not making some people rich… He should be more kind to his mother and use the money for something positive.”
Chief Magistrate Baptiste spoke against the deterioration of many young men in society due to substance abuse. She suggested that some of the proceeds from fines go towards the rehabilitation of these young men.
“I lament it,” she said.
Toussaint was fined $550 by October 1, 2010 or in default he will pay four months in prison on the possession of cannabis charge.
On the offensive weapon charge, he was fined $300 by October 30, 2010 or he will face three months in prison. The sentences will run concurrently.
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15 Comments
Wow I keep observing how one sided the law seem to be. Here is another fine example, a guy admits to smoking a Joint which was NOT found on him as per your report and he was charged $800.00 however another was found with the weed ON his possesion and also a weapon and he is charged $500.00, is any one overseeing these inbalances in the law?
Honestly, is that a quote from the Magistrate? If so, isn’t supposed to have a better command of the english language “He himself has a responsibility if he has all them siblings” – what is this – could she not have made a better well phrased statement/ I don’t know, but i am shaking my head wondering what kind of role models the Dominican kids have……
Tell Mr. Hurry find any job to pay the court. and keep on working to help his mother brothers and sisters. The get a nice girl.
last week they charge a man 800 for a splif although there was no evidence today for a few gramms they charge someone else less. i want to no whats up with theses people. so now why is it we allow people to smoke cigarettes all over the place and man cant smoke a splif. is not the cigarette worst than ganga. i no persons who have smoked ganga almost all there lives and a still hard working sane people who make positive contribution to their communitys. i dont smoke never will . i dont condone smoking and drinkiing alcohol but am being truthful.lets not put a man behind bars or make them pay big fines for a splif and then allow persons to smoke cigars .if a man is found dealing ganga go ahead make them pay but for smoking a splif get real man
Loud mouth again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Officer I totally agree with u for the knife. For the guy lil smoke, NO. I think if u catch a man with a lil weed in his pocket, u should free him with a lil guidelines, warnnings or however u put it. If the man is smoking in public, or have his joint just showing off as if, fine. Charge him. Our police men need to start fishing out the ‘big boys’ not the ordinary man who uses his weed.
POLICE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please stop play close with them real drug lords or “Cocaine Mafias.” Them last set of days u see police men hanging out boldfacely with the real criminals. They get things through the systems for the drugmen. Even more suprisingly, they pursuade others in the system to carry out their unclean tasks with a lil something on the side, of course.
I call on the real true-heart policemen/women. Focuss on your police force. Go real under-cover and see for yourself. If you could stamp out the fowl ones from your camp, then thats a major step. Good luck if any of u survive this. Remember, the best and most organised criminal gang, is the POLICE Force itself.
I didnt know they were this serious about Marijauna possesions in Dominica.
free d ghetto yout wat… charge for marijuana those that taking d coke they doe haress cuz is them people in high society that deals the coke
Another hapless victim of the “drug war”, a poor person and probably a minority I’ll wager. Not too many rich kids appearing in court for cannabis possession are there. No justice in Dominica by the looks of it. It will be interesting to see if this comment gets through. They often don’t in countries where they are living in a “reefer madness” redux. This injustice is absolutely appalling. Shame on you Dominica!
bulls… dat tell dem cop go an look for dem big drugs men not dem little fellers on de road they no who dey are
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA ! When marijuana ruled supreme there were none of those serious violent crimes plagueing the island. Now crack and coke rule, the police turn a blind eye…more violent crime. The correlation is not strange.
Police and judges have gone mad, they need to smoke some Marijuana!
Business as usual just words and no solid action, on one hand the magistrate says that some of the proceeds from fines goes to rehabilitation of the offenders but at the same time the said magistrate handed down her sentence on this young man in default instead of recommending that he undergo treatment at a RE-HAB center he is being sent to serve jail time. What contradiction? Can some one tell me where in Dominica we have a Rehab center?
I would really like to know how the laws of dominica is. A rastaman had to pay $800 for just one joint and this guy had a knife and nine grams and he had to pay $550.which was judge by the same woman i would really love to understand how that works FIRE BURN !!!!!!
do u know mathematics 1+1=2 well $550 + $300 = $850 jah love
these are TWO 2 deux dos separate charges
the person who posted the statement first was right. read again.
With all fairness the man was charged with obstruction under the drugs act he wasnt charged with possession cause they didnt meet him with anything she should have charged him more on both counts.
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