BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – GEORGE ARCHIBALD, 51, of John England Project, has escaped prison time from His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas and will instead compensate his friend whose finger he chopped off as his punishment for the crime.
His sentencing was held today Monday, Oct. 17, for a wounding with intent charge for which he had pleaded guilty.
According to the evidence presented in court the incident occurred on February 8, 2011, at an area in St. Peters called ‘De Gulf’, where he met Christopher Fyfield a man he said has been his friend for over 30 years.
He said that Fyfield had asked him for a drink as soon as he saw him and Archibald turned him down. Archibald claimed that Fyfield said “you know you can’t bang me already…” and came after him with a stick.
He said that in his defense he swung a machete which he had on him, because he had just come from cutting down trees in the mountain to put in a coal kiln.
He said after that the incident he went to the police station to make a report and they held him.
According to the evidence from the virtual complainant, he was at De Gulf when the accused approach him asking for cigarettes.
Fyfield stated that he refused and argument occurred and resulted in Archibald chopping off his little finger on his left hand.
According to Surgeon Cameron Wilkinson, Fyfield’s fifth finger suffered a complete amputation, his fourth finger was semi-amputated and his third finger suffered a laceration.
In the social inquiry report, prepared by Probation Wingrove George, Archibald was sorry for what he had done.
“I did not want to do that to my friend, I am very sorry for his pain and what I put him through,” he stated in the report.
His Lordship said it was another case of senseless violence on an innocent person and said that the convict will not receive jail time but compensate the victim.
He ordered a fine of EC$5,000 to be paid to the victim in six months.
If none of the monies is paid within the six months, Archibald will spend two years in jail.
If he pays half of the money, within the six months deadline, he will only spend one year in prison and if he pays EC$1,000 or less at the end of six months he will spend a total of 18 months in prison.
