BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A young woman from St. Pauls was ordered to pay $15 000 after she was found guilty of committing the offence of “unlawful wounding”.

Latesha Carty appeared before the Basseterre High Court of Justice on Tuesday morning (Feb. 17) to answer to the charges of “wounding with intent” and “unlawful wounding”; offences which were committed on November 19, 2006.

The woman was jointly charged with Kerryl Carty and the case was first called during the September 2008 Criminal Assizes. Her co-accused pleaded guilty to the second count and was fined $3 500 which was to have been paid within three months or, if in default, she would have been required to serve 12 months imprisonment. The first count was withdrawn.

During the trial, the prosecution sought to prove that the accused had a hand in wounding fellow St. Pauls resident Tasha Benjamin, which resulted in her receiving in excess of 30 stitches to her face and being hospitalised for two days.

At about 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the jury retired for deliberations and returned approximately one hour and 45 minutes later with an unanimous “guilty” verdict on the “unlawful wounding” charge and an unanimous “not guilty” verdict on the “wounding with intent” charge.

Trial judge, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle immediately passed sentence on the woman and ordered her to pay a $5 000 fine in three months. He also ordered that she pay $10 000 compensation to the virtual complainant in the case within 12 months. If Carty fails to pay the sums within time specified by the court, she will be sentenced to 18 months at Her Majesty’s Prison.

The accused was self-represented.