A 30-year-old Sandy Bay man was bonded, fined and ordered to compensate a fellow villager for wounding him to the left side of his face.
Rolston Hoyte reappeared before Magistrate Kaywana Jacobs at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on April 4, where his lawyer, Charmaine Walters, asked that her client be re-arraigned.
Hoyte then changed his plea to guilty.
Before the facts were read, Walters told the court that her client had something to say.
“That night was party night and I was intoxicated,” Hoyte told the court. “I want to tell him that I am sorry.”
The facts, read by Inspector of Police Corlene Samuel, are that the virtual complainant, Henderson “Dummy” Browne, 51, has hearing and speech impediments.
On Nov. 24, 2024, about 5 a.m., Browne was at the OTR Lounge Night Club at Sandy Bay with family members and other persons.
Browne went to the side of the club when Hoyte approached him and requested a drink.
Browne refused.
Hoyte got angry and began to fight Browne.
During the fight, Browne received a cut to the left side of his face from an unknown object.
Browne and his guardian reported the matter to the police, and Corporal 860 Cobbler investigated.
Walters told the court that Hoyte showed genuine remorse, took responsibility for his actions, and pleaded guilty.
She noted Hoyte’s age and asked for a second chance for him to do better, telling the court, it was an instance of “ the rum bottle talking that night”.
She asked that Hoyte be bonded and fined.
However, Samuel pointed out that Hoyte has previous convictions, adding that it was not the first time Hoyte had been called on to plead to the charge.
She said that the incident was unprovoked and also asked that Hoyte be bonded and Browne be compensated at the magistrate’s discretion.
After considering the aggravating and mitigating features of the case to the sentencing guidelines, the magistrate arrived at a sentence of two years and 11 months in prison.
She said Hoyte’s last conviction was in 2020 and his convictions were not similar to the present charge.
After looking at the area where Browne was injured, the magistrate concluded that the scar was hardly visible but added that the VC must be considered for his pain and suffering.
She ordered compensation in the sum of EC$2,000 to be paid by July 3 or 12 months in prison.
Hoyte was also bonded for a year in the sum of EC$1,000. If he breaches the bond, he must pay the amount forthwith or spend nine months in prison.
He was also fined EC$300 to be paid by July 3, or three months in prison in default.
“Consider this your second chance,” Jacobs told Hoyte.