CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – SHAWN WEBBE, also known as Dwight Herbert and World Cup, was on Tuesday (Nov. 17) sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and inflicting grievous bodily harm on his father Benson Webbe.
Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave and the court heard how the younger Webbe attacked his father on November 30, 2008 after the latter tried to get him to leave his property.
Benson Webbe testified that his son was in a shed in his yard and he tried to run him off by using a piece of pipe to prod him. He said Shawn beat him on his head with a piece of wood and when he put his hand up in defence he was hit on it and the hand was broken.
Also testifying for the prosecution were Dr. Khan and police officer Joel Caines. Dr. Khan said when she treated the victim he had a broken hand and multiple chop wounds to his head, caused by a blunt object.
Officer Caines testified that he visited the victim at the hospital and was told certain things, following which he went in search of the defendant. He did not find him that day but caught up with him in January 2009 and formally arrested and charged him.
Shawn Webbe, who represented himself, cross examined his father and asked him if it was not he who came after the defendant with a machete and a pipe, and if he did not start the fight. His father replied that he was trying to get him off his premises and he did not hit him but prodded him. The elder Webbe also said he did not have a machete.
“If I try to take a man off my premises then you can put it that way that I started it, but I did not hit you. I prodded you.”
Shawn Webbe took the stand and testified that his father came at him with a machete and pipe, hitting him in the head, and he managed to wrest away the pipe and hit Benson Webbe in the head which resulted in him falling and breaking his hand. The younger Webbe also said he hit his father over his shoulder.
Before passing sentence, Justice Leigertwood-Octave reminded World Cup about the seriousness of the crime. She told him that the statutory punishment for such a crime is a maximum of seven years.
The judge also told Webbe that his sentence is light because he was never convicted, but she thinks the two years is enough time for him to realise what he did was wrong. She further told him she believes that he could do better and she hopes he participates in whatever skills are available in prison.
“You are not stupid. You defended your case well.”
In addition to the two years in jail, Webbe was ordered to undergo psychological and psychiatric treatment and to attend anger management sessions.
