Cocorite woman gets two years for wounding

COCORITE RESIDENT Vanessa Hernan-dez was yesterday sentenced to two years hard labour after she pleaded guilty to the lesser count of wounding Shaheeda Ali with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

Hernandez appeared before High Court Judge Hubert Volney in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court on the initial charge of attempted murder. However, State attorney Cheron Raphael agreed to accept the guilty plea on the lesser count of wounding with intent. The court heard that around 4 pm on August 17, 1999, Ali was walking along John Street, Cocorite, when she got into an argument with Hernandez, who left the scene of the argument, went home and got a swizzle stick and an ice pick and returned to John Street. When she arrived there, she attempted to hit Ali with the swizzle stick, however Ali was able to get it away from her. She then attacked Ali with the ice pick, stabbing her several times about the body. Hernandez’ mother and brother rushed out and restrained her while Ali was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she was treated and warded and later released. A report was made to the St James Police Station and PC Michelle Rowley-Powder conducted an investigation into the matter, which resulted in Hernandez being arrested.

Defence attorney Larry Williams told the court that his client was only 22 years old and pregnant at the time of the offence. He also read a letter written by Hernandez, which stated that she was going through a difficult time at home since her mother did not want her to have the baby. He also indicated that this client was going through some hormonal changes and had recently broken off her friendship with Ali over a man from the area that they had both gotten pregnant for. He said that the combination of stressful situations had resulted in the incident that occurred. In passing sentence, Justice Volney indicated that he was imposing the two-year sentence against Hernandez as a deterrent to other women who might be tempted to commit similar offences. He said that women must know that they cannot just go and get weapons and use it to attack others.