54-year old Romanus John Charles –AKA- “Sa-sa-Yeah” of Pointe Michel will be spending his 2020 Christmas as an inmate at the Dominica State Prison after he was found guilty by a nine-member jury of the offense of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and sentenced to 3 years for the offense by a high court Judge.
According to the facts of the case, as presented in court by state prosecutor attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Daina Matthew, on August 20, 2015, at Roseau near the Pointe Michel bus stop, he inflicted two stab wounds one to the chest and the other to the lower abdomen to Lee Michael Charles.
Dr. Carl Munro who testified told the court that he attended to the patient at the casualty department of the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and the injuries were life-threatening.
He was also admitted to the Alford ward where he remained a patient for nine days. The crime Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts said was “serious” and the maximum sentence in law was 10 years in jail.
“The court’s starting point is five (5) years in jail and given the aggravating features and the weapon used one (1) year will be added to make it six (6),” she said.
A social inquiry report ordered by the court reported that John Charles was well known in the community of Pointe Michel and resides in a family house in the community.
“He is not a trouble maker, a hard worker, and also assisted the police in their investigations, however, he has shown no remorse for his actions,” the report stated. In making her adjustment to the six-year sentence, three (3) years was deducted, however, since he was on bail since the incident and went through a full trial he did not benefit from the one-third discount.
The report also stated that John Charles, all his life has been a casual worker and his last conviction was in 2003 which the Judge regarded as “time spent.”
In handing down the sentence on Charles, Madame Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts stated that the aggravating aspects of the case were that, “a weapon to wit a knife was used, the attack was unprovoked and Lee Michael Charles complained of continued pain in his jaw.”
She stated that although Lee Michael Charles requested compensation, the court was unable to award such since he “had no assets and was a man of straw.”
“Romanus John Charles, the sentence of the court for which you have been found guilty by your peers the jury for the offense of grievous bodily harm (GBH) is three (3) years in jail starting today December 1, 2020,” the judge stated. He was represented by Darius Jones.