A Colonarie man has one month to compensate a shopkeeper EC$250 for damaging her shop counter, or spend one month in prison.
Further, the man, Marlon Thompson has been bonded for a year in the sum of EC$1,000. If he breaches the bond, he must pay the sum forthwith or spend three months in prison.
Magistrate Bertie Pompey handed down the sentence on Thursday at the Colonarie Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Georgetown, after finding Thompson guilty.
Thompson told the court that he believes that the virtual complainant, Pearline Shallow, of Byera, only pursued the charge against him because she owes him money.
The court heard that on May 12, Shallow was at Byera in her shop assisting customers when she heard the defendant outside cursing.
She said Thompson was using a cutlass to cut down trees and flowers at the gate, inside her yard.
Shallow said that she called the police and Thompson ran.
She said when the police came, they confiscated Thompson’s bike, which he left in her yard.
Shallow said that after the police left, Thompson returned with a knife and asked her for his bike.
She said Thompson told her, “If I can’t get me bike, somebody ah get f***ing dead tonight. I want my f***ing bike!”
Thompson then took the knife and “scrawled”, “dig up” the shop counter, which is valued at EC$700.
Shallow said she called the police again and they met the defendant at the scene.
In his defence, Thompson said, that on April 28, Shallow’s dog bit him and he and Shallow had an agreement regarding payment.
On May 12, he went to Shallow’s shop for EC$20, as part of the compensation but Shallow got “aggressive and start to cuss,” he said.
He said he didn’t have a weapon or knife with him but that he broke a beer bottle twice on the counter.
The prosecutor, Corporal of Police Delando Charles, put it to the defendant that he got vexed when the virtual complainant didn’t give him the EC$20.
Thompson said, “No.”
The prosecutor also put it to the defendant that he had a knife.
The defendant responded, “No. They didn’t meet me with no weapon.”
“Deal with your anger different,” Charles told Thompson
Pompey asked the defendant about his bicycle and the defendant said it was on Shallow’s premises and the police took it that day.
The magistrate said he believed the defendant had a knife but he disposed of it.