"I am annoyed about the violence in the country," says Judge Francis Belle
By: Cherisse Sutton
Reporter - SKNVibes.com
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Lenford Gumbs was relieved when resident Judge, His Lordship Francis Belle ordered him to pay a fine instead of doing time.
Gumbs was found guilty of Wounding with Intent of Llewellyn Berkeley last Wednesday.
At the high court today, Tuesday, Jan. 23 his lawyer Hesketh Benjamin made a passionate plea before his client was sentenced for a non-confined punishment.
Benjamin said that his client had no prior convictions and has never appeared in any court and that the incident, according to his client was a foolish act. ~~adz:Right~~
He pled for His Lordship to do his best in what may be safe to all parties involved but bearing in mind that Gumbs has three children still to support.
Gumbs who has been into Architecture for the past 17 years sat quietly as His Lordship asked the virtual complainant if he needed any compensation to which he replied "no".
After hearing from Gumb's lawyer, His Lordship Belle said that it is unfortunate that only two people were present when the actual incident occurred and only they would know what happened around the corner.
"I will make you pay some money, I am annoyed about the violence in the country but not everyone needs to go to jail or we would have to move the jail to the streets," said the stern Judge. ~~adz:Left~~
He then fined Gumbs EC$8,000 for each wound that was inflicted upon Berkeley which totaled to EC$16,000.
He was ordered to pay the money in six months or in default spend three years in prison.
