Joel St Louis of Grandbay has been fined $1,000 to pay in two months or spend the next four months in prison for walking with a knife in Grand Bay.
St Louis who appeared before Magistrate Sherma Blaize- Sylvester at a Roseau Magistrate’s Court on Thursday pleaded guilty for being in possession of an offensive weapon without giving a satisfactory reason for having the same.
According to the facts revealed in court by the prosecution, on the 9th February, 2016 at about 10am the defendant was walking down ‘Lalay’ in Grand Bay with a knife saying, he has to ‘prick and kill somebody.’
A resident who saw him reported the matter to the police.
Police arrived at the scene and met the defendant in possession of a knife with no handle.
When questioned he said, “Officer last night they steal my phone so I have my knife for when they come back.”
He was then arrested.
When cautioned he responded, “Officer give me a break, I wrong, I shouldn’t do that.”
The defendant is not known to the court.
“It’s your first time so the court will not issue you with a custodial sentence,” Magistrate Blaize-Sylvester told him.
She told St. Louis that he should not be walking around with any weapons.
Joel is suffering from a psychological disorder and it is well-known fact in the community. The man hasn’t threatened anybody he doesn’t get any one trouble. There are times maybe if he doesn’t take meds he acts funny and weird but the guy doesn’t threatens or cause harm. Yes having a knife is dangerous but that villager could have used their discretion in that situation. So to the police. My God you arresting someone with a psychological disorder for saying that fine but warn him. You taking him to court and fining him. The man doesn’t work nor does he have relatives giving money. He won’t have the funds to pay and then he’ll face jail over this. Tell me how you have made society better. Is that we call police work? And in the community have the bigger heads getting away with soliciting sex from minors, prostitution of minors etc and that you call police work. Really? Smh
So I buying my knife and I need a reason to carry it.
Laborites in grandbay like to hear dat.. War on crine..
He is now known to the Court. He should also be given a psychiatric assessment. Who in their right mind, even though he is not a mad man would carry a knife and say, in the open he will prick and kill someone? How many would he prick and kill? This is threatening people.
Did someone really steal his phone? What phone is it, a landline one or a cellular?
Can he afford to pay the $1,000 fine? I do think it should have been ascertained that he can afford it. If he can’t, consider that he might steal to get that money which is another crime. If not, give him a custodial sentence which is what he should receive.
For carrying a knife and saying he will prick and kill deserves a bigger sentence.
You lived in America waaay too long.
You live in Dominica waaay too short.
Do you not have something better to say? Educated and sensible people always have more to say than the uneducated and insensible.
What is your problem?
Good observation. I came to the same conclusion. Mental illnees comes in many ways.
My comment offends you and that other one above your comment.
Some of you are out of place and unkind. You are one of them. You must be related to that man otherwise you would not make that statement.
Wait until someone comes at you with a knife. It will be a different story. People as you keep the devil and crimes in D/ca. You have nothing good to contribute to D/ca.
Who knows you? Do I know if you are not suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s? The pot always calls the kettle black.
Learn to be kind to your fellow people and those who you do not know.
You are beyond appreciating the good in others.
I hope you are not one of those who go to church with a Bible and pretend you are a good Christian then insult people especially on this Website. Hypocrite!
While it is good that a resident, who SAW him reported the case, more police patrol and searches should be done on likely carriers of such offensive weapons. That will keep many in check!!!! Come on officers, do like Inspector Pendeng…. walk the beat with your juniors and make the necessary arrests!!!!
Which will result in unlawful searches, Police harassment, basic liberties taken away from the populace, complaints filed against the cops etc. You can’t just have cops walking around with intent to search nationals. Lawsuit galore partner, you have no idea what you’re asking.
Next time run, cause when you walk with a nife, you get arrested
You mean Grand Bay people are always dressed in red but they failed to see that all court cases have to be heard in Roseau. Is the colour blinding them as bat? When the Govt was renting a house in Grand Bay for the police cases were hheard but now with their own structure its only the police sleeping and playing dominoes there. My fellow Grand Bayriand when will you all see the light. Not being political but objective.