A first-time offender, Ned Abraham of #2 Shop Lane, Goodwill, has been bound over in the sum of $1,000.00 to keep the peace for the next 12 months in a land dispute. Abraham appeared before the Court charged with intimidation with a cutlass and threatening Clinton George. He claims that he is the owner of the property where the complainant resides which the families of both men are in a dispute over and the matter is before the Court.
The facts of the case are that, on August 24, 2023, at about 3:30 a.m., George was asleep at his home at #2 Shop Lane, Goodwill, when Abraham who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol started speaking loudly and began uncovering the roof of George’s house. During this incident, Abraham stated to George, “I know is you alone that living there and I will come and do something with you.”
Later that morning, armed with a cutlass, he began intimidating the entire household including the complainant, and a report was subsequently made to the police. On arrival on the scene, Abraham was met by Police Officers, and during their discussion, he began behaving in an unruly manner. As a result, he was arrested and transported to the Roseau Police Station.
During the course of the investigation, an interview was conducted with Abraham in which he denied the allegation made against him but admitted that he was under the influence of alcohol and he did have a cutlass in his possession. The two charges were subsequently preferred against him. During his plea in mitigation, Abraham insisted that he never intimidated George with a cutlass. He did admit to “starting to unmount the roof” since according to him, the complainant is on his family’s property.
“I usually do work with my cutlass and that morning I was passing with it. I never said nothing to Clinton,” he told the Court. “He and his brother started making noise with me so I went in my yard and I was provoking them but I wasn’t going to do anything.”
When questioned by Magistrate Candia Carrette-George on his reasons for entering a guilty plea given his explanation, he said “Your Honor I just want this matter to be over with.”
On the charge of intimidation, the Chief Magistrate informed Abraham that he was bound over to keep the peace in the sum of $1,000.00 for one year.
“So that means for the next year you have to behave yourself, “Magistrate Carrette-George advised.
“Don’t make noise with Mr. George or raise a cutlass or threaten him. If he reports you to the police within that one year then you automatically have a forthwith fine of $1,000.00 to pay and if you can’t pay you will go to jail for three months.”
On the charge of threat, the court imposed no separate penalty.
This types of cases and rulings I’ve been reading about leaves me with the feeling that it’s strictly child’s play court sessions that’s taking place in our courtroom. So, what happened to the people or persons who the defendant accused of being on his family’s property? Now the defendant has to keep his mouth shut for a whole year while he’s being pissed off of the fact that he can’t say anything to the alleged trespassers. Oh Dominica, this young generation of judges have strangled you – But they will when the time comes. Lawyers and judges in Dominica are sellouts. Money has become the god they never had. I advise my people to have some understanding about the law (British Law) which we still practice, in an effort to represent yourself in court; Knowing your legal rights; Securing evidence and witnesses; Have a few photos as proof and evidence; If possible, use your phone to record your conversation with the other person. Don’t just rely on a judge or lawyer. Times have changed.