Wesley man gets nine-month sentence for concealed cutlass in night club

Bruney Prosper of Wesley, who was initially on bail for attempted murder, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for carrying an offensive weapon in a night club.

Prosper had pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon.

He was on remand for being charged with attempted murder; however was released on bail of $10,000 on his own recognizance, by Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste in December 2009.

According to the facts the defendant was approached by Constable Gerard Durand in Muffet Disco in Wesley, who noticed something under Prosper’s shirt.

Thinking it was a gun, Constable Durand identified himself as a police officer dressed in plain clothes and immediately grabbed hold of the defendant at the same time.  After securing the cutlass from the defendant, Durand asked him what he was doing with the cutlass in the disco, and he replied that he ‘come out and fish.’

Prosper was arrested for being armed and not giving a satisfactory reason. With the assistance of Corporal JJ Williams, Prosper was transported to the Wesley Police Station, where he was given station bail.

The cutlass recovered from Prosper is a three-foot rusty cutlass.

During the investigation it was revealed that since being bailed on his own recognizance  many district police officers received many reports of Prosper being armed with a concealed cutlass under his shirt. He has also been intimidating people.

When he appeared before Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin at the Wesley court Prosper said in an invited comment by Behanzin that he came out from fishing all morning and decided to go to the club that night. He added that the cutlass was used for chucking the fishes.

Before passing sentence Magistrate Behanzin gave Prosper this order: “You were bailed on your own recognizance for $10,000 and you commit this offence while on bail.  You are warned to appear for a forfeiture of bail hearing, where you may have to forfeit the full, part or none of the bail sum.  You have a number of relevant previous convictions, including wounding.

– Correspondent

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16 Comments

  1. janet jackson
    October 3, 2010

    EVELINA WHAT EVER HER NAME IS MAY NOT HAVE A FAMILY, SHE MUST THINK SHE IA INDISPENCIBLE, WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND WHOMEVER YOU ARE , YOU AS A JUDGE SHOULD TYR TO PROTECT OTHER PPL’S FAMILY. CHA MAN. I LOVE BEN

  2. GOD SEND
    April 12, 2010

    Who sentenced Olivier. Should be ashamed. They need to get their act together. Think he’s not a good boy, got no family. His been in there since 2004. And people who have done far greater things have long come and gone about them business. His Grand ma’s sick and needs he’s help.

  3. Rolle
    March 23, 2010

    The Chief magistrate should be investigated …

    • So True
      March 25, 2010

      That is so true, the lady finding all kinds of problems with Tiyani sentencing but she there forming the fool in the court of law, doesn’t she think @ the end of the day, how is it she is really saying the Dominican public, from where am sitting reading this message, something is terribly wrong with this woman and Mr. Behanzin and she is trying her utmost best to get him out of the way.

  4. CB CUZ
    March 23, 2010

    no wonder d disco was smelling like rotten fish. mister doh even bathe and he in club with cutlass.. the magistrate that gave him bail the first time should be ashamed of her self and should step down without having asked to do so..Not because you pass law school and the bar exam makes you a good judge..RESIGN NOW.. and mister next time bathe first you was smelling like rotten volant

  5. March 22, 2010

    IF THEY ARE AFRAID OF GIVING THEM MAXIMUM TIME BECAUSE OF PRISON SPACE,
    USE FORT SHIRLEY, LET THEM STAY IN THOSE DUNGEON HARD LABOUR.(NOT POWER)

  6. GOOD
    March 22, 2010

    Whoever the magistrate is,he or she is a joker.That’s why i love Tiyani so much.

  7. Bamba
    March 22, 2010

    Great job Durand !! I feel safe to walk the streets because of guys like yourself and JJ Williams. Keep on taking this proactive approch towards violent perpetrators who are bent on terrorizing people and breaking the law. Your acts that night may have saved a life.

  8. Chief Mag. (oh please!!)
    March 22, 2010

    I am yet to understand why the Chief Magistrate is giving Mr. Behanzin soo much presssure. What on earth would cause her to give a man charged with attempted murder bail on his own recognizance? And its not just any man yah. It’s a man who terrorizes his community. I guess he had intentions on committing another offence in the night club. The Chief Magistrate should start being concerned about people’s safety and do her job instead on of harrassing Behanzin.

    • Anonymous
      March 25, 2010

      This lady first needs to fix up her home, before she can fix up this country, she has no parenting skills but thinks that Mr.Behanzin is too strict on the ppl who are destroying the very fabric of our society.

      Tell me how must one have to BUY the love of her own child and then look a man you is merely trying to protect and help a mother find peace, for a dead son, a community for being able to walk the streets @ night without fear of someone terrorizing them, drug dealers using our youth, murderers all out on bail, when these questions are answered then Ms.Baptiste can question Mr.Behanzin sentencing and rule the court however she pleases, but until then i think you should get the hell out and let Mr.Behanzin do his work.

  9. d/ca to the bone
    March 22, 2010

    WHY IS OUR COURT SYSTEM A JOKE, THE HAS A CUTLASS, EVEN OUT ON BAIL THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, WHY DIDN’T HE SENTENCE WITH HARD LABOUR, THE GUY IS READY FOR WORK , WHY HOLD BACK, MAKE GOOD USE OF HIS HANDS AND THE CUTLASS , HE NEED WORK TO DO, INSTEAD OF ENJOYING TAX PAYERS MONEY

    • You know I can understand a concealed gun or perhaps a knife; however a rusty cutlass?

      Some criminal.

      This guy is an idiot!

      He doesn’t even know how to lie, if he is returning home from fishing, intelligence would suggest he takes his line, and fish home, thus taking a bath, or shower, changing his cloths and time for party; I believe that idiot intended to fish for someone to kill.

      Nine mouths?

      The bastard should get a ten year sentence, the Magistrate should make an example out of him; his kind cause me not to be so eager to come home and visit Wesley anytime soon.

      My nephew was murdered there not too long ago, I had to stay hear and call police in Wesley, to go to talk to another eccentric mentally ill nephew of mine: I spoke with the same JJ Williams, who did his work for certain; I know because my sister told me he contacted her.

      I need the law to take this crazy nephew of mine and commit him to the asylum where he can get some mental medical treatment.

      Anyway, I believe to penalty is to soft.

      In nine months, the Prosper boy will be out still creating havoc!

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • weslite
        March 26, 2010

        his case not yet call that’s why he got nine months but i bet you when the case calls if is the same judge he will not get nine months u watch and see.just pray is the same judge.

  10. NO JUSTICE
    March 22, 2010

    $10,000XCD for attempted murder? Did I read correctly? And she accuses Behanzin of not applying the law correctly. I really hope that she takes not of this one. It could be that she found the young man attractive hence the 10,000XCd bail. LMAO This is all that can come to mind for such slackness on her part.

  11. De judicial system
    March 22, 2010

    Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste is a waste of time …she needs to go!

    • Real Talk
      March 22, 2010

      Thats the best thing I’ve read all year! Skerrit and the AG needs to get the car started and ousts this lady from the courts…

      …she has no right to be called a magistrate

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