Recurring nightmares from an early morning barroom brawl that left one man dead and another man with serious injuries, were among several matters considered by a Grand Court judge when handing down a 13-year sentence to one of the attackers.
Jonathan Alexander Woodhouse, 29, of Bodden Town, was jailed on Tuesday, 16 April, for a single count of wounding with intent after having been convicted by a Grand Court jury in December last year.
Woodhouse was one of three men on trial for the fight at Carib Café, in May 2023, in which Randy Kelsey Robinson was killed and another man wounded.
Woodhouse, a father of two young children, was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges in relation to Robinson’s death, but convicted for stabbing and chopping the second victim with a 12-inch knife.
Lifelong scars, lasting nightmares, prolonged trauma
According to a victim impact report, snippets of which were read out in court, the surviving victim and his wife have been left traumatised by the events – a matter Justice Marlene Carter took into account when arriving at her sentence.
“[The victim] has lifelong scars, and trust issues because of the events of that night,” said Carter.
Medical evidence presented to the jury during the trial revealed that the victim was stabbed in both arms, the worst of which required him to receive 18 stitches in his left biceps.
During the trial, the victim told the jury he felt threatened and began fighting for his life, throwing punches at anyone who came near him.
“I remember throwing the first punch because I was afraid, and I was being attacked from behind,” said the witness. “I thought it was four of them but it was actually three of them, and it was two of them that was attacking me. I was so afraid that I started punching anyone who came close to me.”
Carter then told the court, “His wife, who was present and witnessed the ordeal, had to remove her husband, bloodied and afraid.”
The wife’s victim impact report, which was referenced by Carter, revealed that her once-carefree nature has been replaced by a distrust of people and a fear of crowds – as she is constantly looking over her shoulder when in public.
A lengthy prison sentence
When arriving at her sentence of 13 years, Carter said she took into consideration the impact on the victims, as well as Woodhouse’s previous convictions.
According to an antecedent report, Woodhouse has had 10 previous convictions, the most serious of which resulted in a 26-month jail sentence for a charge of wounding in 2019 in relation to a fight in a bar.
Carter noted that the social inquiry report into Woodhouse’s attitude towards violent crimes suggests he was at a high risk of reoffending, “as he was not deterred by the previous sentence, nor has he applied the lessons learned from the previous convictions… such as anger-management classes.”
“This was a serious offence, which has a starting point of 12 years with a range of nine to 16 years,” the judge said.
From a starting point of 12 years, Carter increased the sentence by 18 months for aggravating factors including that the offence occurred in a crowded place and in the presence of the victim’s wife; attempts to dispose of evidence such as the clothes and knife used; and Woodhouse’s previous offending.
Carter then reduced the sentence by six months to reflect Woodhouse’s initial guilty plea to a lesser charge of wounding.
When handing down the final sentence of 13 years, Carter told Woodhouse she hopes he makes use of the rehabilitative services available behind bars to make himself a better person upon release.
Woodhouse’s sentence comes some seven weeks after Shaun Antonio Jackson was sentenced to 31 years in prison for Robinson’s murder.
A third defendant, Matthew Stefan Glasgow, was acquitted of all charges.
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