A 33-year-old Owia resident was on Thursday fined EC$300 for wounding his drinking buddy.
Stevenson Lavia appeared before Magistrate Bertie Pompey at the Colonarie Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Georgetown, and pleaded guilty to a charge that on Dec. 24, 2023, at Owia, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Dennis Lorraine, also of Owia.
Prosecutor, Inspector of Police Renrick Cato read the facts to the court.
He said that on the said date, Lavia and Lorraine, who are drinking buddies, were at a shop drinking strong rum when Lorraine gave Lavia EC$4 to purchase juice at another shop.
Cato said Lavia returned to the shop where Lorraine was about 20 minutes later, without the juice, and then he walked away.
Lorraine then asked Lavia for the EC$4, which resulted in an argument during which Lavia struck Lorraine with an unknown object in his forehead.
The defendant then picked up a stone and pelted it, striking Lorraine on his right arm.
During a struggle between both men, Lavia picked up another stone and struck Lorraine to the back of his head.
Lavia, who has one previous conviction, told the magistrate he did not have anything to say in mitigation.
Pompey ordered Lavia to pay the fine in one month or serve two months in prison.