A man who stabbed a childhood friend in the chest outside a George Town bar has been sentenced to 15 months in prison plus eight months suspended for two years.
Jose Yamany Carter-Ramirez, 25, attacked the 21-year-old victim after his girlfriend told him he had slapped her bottom inside Power Supply Bar on the evening of 16 Dec. 2022.
The defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful and malicious wounding earlier this year.
Justice Cheryll Richards delivered her sentence in Grand Court on Friday, 11 Aug., as Carter-Ramirez watched via video link from Northward Prison.
She described the incident as “serious” and said it was clear from CCTV footage that the stabbing was “deliberate and purposeful”.
“The resulting injury was not a flesh wound; it entailed a loss of consciousness that required immediate and further surgical intervention,” Richards said.
However, she said Carter-Ramirez had no similar previous convictions, the offence was out of character, and he is responsible for the care of his children, partner and mother.
The judge added that he had expressed remorse, with Carter-Ramirez saying he was “feeling terrible”, and he had turned himself in to police.
It was a single blow and an isolated incident, she said, as she delivered the sentence.
Under the influence
Richards told the court that at about 11pm, the victim went to the Lawrence Boulevard bar. He was standing at the counter when he saw the defendant’s girlfriend.
He did not speak to her and denies having any interaction with her, the court heard.
Someone slapped her on her bottom so she left the bar and went to her car where Carter-Ramirez was sitting, and he drove them both to another bar on West Bay Road.
She told Carter-Ramirez that the victim had slapped her and her boyfriend decided to return to the Power Supply Bar.
The woman said the defendant was frantic “as though he was under the influence of drugs”, Richards said. He later admitted to police that he was under the influence of alcohol.
When they arrived back at the bar, Carter-Ramirez walked towards the rear entrance. His girlfriend called him back but he did not turn around. She remained at the car.
The victim was outside of the bar smoking a cigarette when he heard a voice say: “You slapped my girl on her ass,” the judge told the court.
He responded, “What’s going on?” and turned around to see the defendant with a knife.
Carter-Ramirez stabbed the man in his chest. The victim said it happened so quickly, and he was frightened.
He saw that his attacker was going to stab him again so he ran off in the direction of the road as Carter-Ramirez chased him, the court heard.
The victim said he does not recall what happened after that, but a passerby found him on the opposite side of the road, the judge said. He was bleeding profusely from his chest.
The man drove him to Cayman Islands Hospital and he lost consciousness on the way.
He was treated for his injuries and transported to Health City Cayman Islands for emergency surgery. He was discharged five days later on 21 Dec.
Carter-Ramirez turned himself in at West Bay Police Station on 4 Jan., having heard that police were looking for him.
He was interviewed under caution and confirmed he was present at the bar that night. He said he was drunk at the time and would have taken a different approach if sober.
When asked if he had stabbed the victim, he said he had nothing to say despite being shown CCTV footage of the attack.
Scarred and scared
A victim impact report said the defendant and victim were well known to each other, were two years apart at high school and greeted each other on sight.
The victim said that after he was discharged from hospital, he had to return several times, including to remove his stitches. He has scars from the injuries and from surgery.
He could not move his right hand and his right side was stiff, he could not walk, and he was weak because of blood loss, the court heard.
He continues to have breathing difficulties for which he is on medication.
According to the impact report, the victim used to be an avid fisherman and diver but now is afraid to dive in case he encounters breathing difficulties.
He was off work for three weeks and had to use his savings to buy medication and supplies.
A social inquiry report said the defendant is a father of three young children and his partner is financially dependent on him. He also cares for his biological mother who is unwell.
His adopted mother speaks highly of him and describes him as a “kind, caring and hard-working individual”, the court heard.
He has four previous convictions and was assessed as being of a medium risk of reoffending.
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