Bagatelle man ordered to compensate victim

A bagatelle man has been ordered to compensate his victim following his conviction for Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) eight years ago. Ettinoffe Thomas wounded France Desiree at his residence on Princess Lane Goodwill on December 11, 2016, following an altercation between the two men. He initially pleaded not guilty to the offence in April 2024 but changed his plea to guilty on May 3, and this resulted in his conviction.

Desiree informed the court of his request of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) from Thomas as compensation for loss of income due to his injuries, to which the ruling complied. The medical report disclosed that Desiree had suffered permanent physical injury to the fourth and fifth finger, classifying the injuries within category one of consequence factors, which is deemed the highest.

Desiree still suffers nerve damage resulting in his inability to use his injured hand as efficiently as he should. During sentencing at the High Court today, the starting sentence of five years was discounted by 33.33 % for an early guilty plea, leaving a remainder of three years, six months. His Lordship Collin Williams sentenced Thomas to three years imprisonment suspended to three years. He was also ordered to pay $5,000.00 forthwith to the virtual complainant with a promise to settle an additional $5,000.00 to the court by May 31, 2024.

In accordance with the requested settlement of $30,000.00, Thomas is hereby requested to pay two instalments of $10,000.00 by August 31, and November 31, 2024, respectively. Failure to commit to payment of the instalment plan will result in imprisonment and according to His Lordship Williams, if Thomas commits any offence within his three-year suspended sentence which results in over six months imprisonment, he will be ordered to serve the three-year sentence in addition to the new sentence.