One young man has been sentenced for the damage he and a companion did to eight vehicles, for which the cost of repairs totalled $10,438.
Sean Kennedy Jackson was 18 and Raymond Mark Solomon was 19 when they went to a night club and drank, then got caught in the rain, lost their tempers and pelted the parked vehicles.
That was in April 2004.
The matter first came to Summary Court in June 2004. In August, both defendants pleaded guilty. However, they had also been charged with the theft of a bicycle, to which they pleaded not guilty. Sentencing for the damage was postponed until the theft trial could take place.
Hurricane Ivan intervened and the young men were directed to return to court at least four more times in 2004.
In 2005, there were 10 more court appearances. Some delays were caused by Solomon’s non-attendance.
In February, when Solomon was not present, Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale told Jackson the $10,000 would have to be paid and she wasn’t waiting 10 years for it.
In March, in the presence of both defendants’ attorneys, she told them again that they would have to pay back every cent.
Warrant issued
In April she issued a warrant for Solomon, who had failed to appear. She told Jackson that his situation was most unsatisfactory; she needed to see him in employment.
There are 7,000 permits for unskilled labour, she commented. Why can’t a young Caymanian get a job? she asked. ‘Sometimes when we owe a debt we take whatever work is available.’ The unemployment that exists in Cayman is voluntary, the magistrate said.
The matter was again put off, partly for Solomon to appear and partly for Jackson to say how he would pay his part of the damages.
Meanwhile, the Crown agreed to change the charge of theft of the bicycle into one of taking a conveyance without authority. Defence Attorney John Furniss had argued that the bike was taken without consent, but there was never any intention to permanently deprive the owner of it. The defendants then pleaded guilty.
Attorneys noted that the young men had been drinking the night both offences occurred. ‘Intoxication is never a defence,’ the magistrate pointed out.
Last week, Mr. Furniss urged the court to sentence Jackson, partly because of the number of times he and a family member had been coming to court.
Get a job
He also advised that prospects for Jackson’s employment were now good and reminded the court there had been cooperation with the Probation Department.
Solomon has since been charged with other offences and will be dealt with later.
The facts of the damage had been aired on several occasions. The Crown’s case was that the two young men had gone to a night club and were heading back to quarters near the airport.
They saw a bicycle and took it as their transportation.
It started to rain and there were problems with the bicycle.
A police car stopped and officers spoke to them.
The defendants asked for a ride, but their request was turned down. They were angry and frustrated as they continued their journey.
They picked up rocks and stones and pelted the vehicles.
The truck and a car were parked outside Vaults, Locks and Safes. The other six vehicles were parked at Tony’s Toys.
Somebody saw them at Tony’s Toys and police were called.
The defendants were followed and subsequently arrested.
Jackson’s sentence was 18 months probation with a condition that he attend an anger management programme.
He is to do 40 hours of community service and pay for half of the damage, $5,219.
This is to be paid at the rate of $500 per month or he will serve 14 days in lieu of each payment missed.
Related Videos
