A teacher whose lawyer said he “stepped out of character” when he assaulted his wife and breached a court order has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Instead, Alwin Woods, 43, was bonded, fined and ordered to pay compensation for offences.
Woods was charged that on Jan. 10, at O’Brien’s Valley, he assaulted Sheril-Ann Durrant-Woods, of the same address, occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was also charged that on Jan. 10, at O’Briens Valley, he willfully disobeyed court order FC 108/22 made by the President of the Family Court, Colleen McDonald on Nov. 23, 2022.
Mitigating on his client’s behalf recently, lawyer Israel Bruce told the Colonarie Magistrate’s Court sitting at Georgetown that Woods has contributed most of his life to educating children and was a virgin to the law.
He said Woods “stepped out of his character, if I may put it that way, and acted as he should not have acted”.
Bruce asked the court to impose a sentence that would cause Woods to reflect, adding that a fine or bond was applicable and further suggested that Woods benefit from a programme that deals with marriage counselling or managing emotions.
“It pains me to deal with this matter but I am happy it has come to an end,” Bruce told the court.
Like Bruce, the prosecutor, Corporal of Police Delando Charles, did not recommend a custodial sentence.
He, however, said the prevalence of domestic violence is a great concern in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Charles said Woods has now become a “statistic” and would be labelled as a domestic abuser.
The prosecutor said a strong message must be sent to society but suggested a fine, and compensation for “emotional and physical damages…
“I am going to put the keys to the future in his hands,” Charles said.
He told the court that Woods had not set a proper example for his students and urged him to get back on track for himself and his son.
For the assault charge, Magistrate Kaywana Jacobs ordered Woods to pay compensation of EC$800 in four months or spend three months in prison.
He was also bonded for six months in the sum of EC$600. If he breaches the bond, Woods must pay the sum forthwith or spend six months in prison.
On the breach of court order charge, the magistrate said her main concern was deterrence.
She fined Woods EC$600 to be paid in two months or two months in prison.
She also bonded him for a year in the sum of $1,000 or six months imprisonment.
“Hope that you see the error of your ways and remain out of the ambits of the court,” the magistrate told Woods.