BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE owner of Fashion Gallery on Central Street in Basseterre, Iditha Thomas, has a life-long scar above her left eye following an encounter with a juvenile bandit in the USA on Friday, November 25, 2011.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Thomas recounted her ordeal while in Miami to purchase items to boost her income during the Christmas/Carnival Season.
“I was at a bus stop in Miami waiting to go shopping. While seated at the bus stop with another lady, a tall young guy was walking past and he made a sudden stop. He took two steps backwards and held on to a chain I was wearing around my neck. Instinctively, I retaliated by also holding to it and he started hitting me in my face.
“I jumped up and I held on to him and he gave me a box in my face, knocked me down and started pulling my bag in which I had my money to go shopping. He took away the bag while I was on the ground. I started to feel very weak and was slowly going into a semi-conscious state when a gentleman came up, took off his shirt and tied it over my eye to stop the flow of blood,” Thomas said.
She added that the incident had attracted a relatively large crowd and some of the public-spirited people gave chase and caught the juvenile, who had tried to run away from the scene.
“Shortly after they caught him, a gentleman, who was in the company of his wife and their child, came up to me and said, ‘Mam, I have your purse.’ He then gave it to me and I felt relieved, but the pain over my left eye was almost unbearable.”
The entrepreneur said that someone had summoned the paramedics and they took her to a hospital.
“While at the hospital, a detective came and took me to the scene of the crime. He then asked to identify the person who wounded me and took away my bag. I did identify the same young man and they arrested him,” Thomas recounted.
She also said that medical staff at the hospital treated her for the injuries she suffered, which included a cut over her left eye that “carried nine stitches”.
The authorities in Miami had informed Thomas by mail that the case would be tried next week in camera and, if needs be, she would be summoned to the USA to give evidence.
“They promised that all expenses would be paid, including airfare and accommodation,” Thomas said.
