Pensioner to pay $10,000 for wounding

A 66-year-old pensioner will have to pay $10,000 compensation for wounding his neighbour in 1999. Pensioner Charles Elliot was also placed on a bond in the sum of $30,000 for two years to keep the peace and be of good behaviour or in default, he will have to re-appear before Justice Paula Mae Weekes for sentencing. Payment of the compensation fee is to start with an immediate $2,000 payment. He must pay the balance within the next 12 months.

Elliot was found guilty of wounding his neighbour Shawn Bethelmy with a single chop to his right hand on November 12, 1999, at his apartment. He was prosecuted by State attorneys Jeron Joseph and Nadia James while attorney Sean Cazabon defended Elliot. In sentencing Elliot, Justice Weekes noted that the incident was “one of aberration of a man of 60 plus years.” She observed that there was more to the incident than came out before the Court, but, be that as it may, she would have to deal with only what was before the Court. She said that before the incident, Elliot had a clean record, and it was rather unusual for him to behave the way he did, notwithstanding his alcohol consumption. While considering the sentencing, Justice Weekes said that Elliot was not a nuisance nor did he need rehabilitating, consequently incarceration would not be necessary. The judge said though that he had to pay for the wrong he did to Bethelmy.