Francois Bannis of Grand Fond has been ordered to pay a fine of $6,000 within the next nine months or he will face three years jail for causing grievous bodily harm to Elwin Austrie in Grand Fond in 2006.
Bannis, who appeared before Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks this morning, pleaded guilty to inflicting a cutlass wound to the hand of the complainant, causing him to lose 40 percent mobility in that hand. Austrie spent two days at the Princess Margaret Hospital as a result of the injury.
According to the facts presented by state lawyer Wayne Norde, Bannis told police that he was defending himself from the complainant who attacked him with a stick.
In mitigation today, Bannis further attempted to convince the court that his actions were self defence.
“I didn’t have nothing Elwin Austrie, we haven’t got nothing… He attacked me with a stick. I lift my cutlass… it cut him. I didn’t intend to do that,” he said.
The judge was not convinced. She said that based on what was stated in a doctor’s report she did not believe the complainant suffered from defensive wounds but offensive ones.
“You couldn’t have been blocking, you were chopping,” she told him.
The judge acknowledged that this was the defendant’s first offense at age 51 before passing sentence.
“That’s the only thing saving you from going to Stockfarm this morning,” she told him.
Bannis was ordered to pay the first $1,000 of his fine by October 15, 2010 and thereafter, $650 at the end of every month starting November-end.
Life was given to us to do good and many people believe that they have given life, and that they think that htye can take it from other the law should think of what is happen, yes its true for 51 years you never did a crime but it takes only on second to kill someone.
Our justice system really sucks. This attack took place in 2006? Four years to hear a case of grievious bodily harm? WTF!!!
i@mouth of the south: I’m with You! Let’s Pray Self…. And All they can do is say grievous Bodily Harm!Sttps… Just lock d Man Up is why Dominica have so much crime people think it’s nice and d judge letting people do whatever they want
@mouth of the south: start by praying for yourself and then we will tackle the rest
i always believe chapping,,,,butchering watever u call it is worst than shooting someone,,,,, that is inhumane n psychotic,,,,, well i hope he learn his lesson,,,, d.a have too much crime,,,, is like for three weeks is crime season wii,,,,, n when the doctor from u.w.i say d.a in proportion of population worse dan j.a allu vex,,,,,,let’s pray 4 our land,,,,cuz we can still leave our window open