A Charlestown man was yesterday sentenced to two prison sentences after he was found guilty of break-and-enter-and-larceny and unlawful wounding.
The sentences were handed down in the absence of Steve Mohan, 24, of 13 Lying and Sussex Streets, Charlestown, who failed to attend court.
The allegations against Mohan was that on March 11 at Georgetown, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Clifford Ifill and stole five cell phones, valued $58,000 and belonging to Ifill. It was also alleged that on the same day, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Ifill, so as to cause him actual bodily harm.
Mohan had pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were first read to him on April 15. He was admitted to bail in the sum of $25,000 on each charge and the matter was subsequently sent for trial.
Magistrate Judy Latchman, who presided over the trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, yesterday announced that Mohan had been found guilty of the offences and sentenced to 24 months on the break and enter charge and 18 months on the unlawful wounding charge, with both sentences running concurrently. As a result, Mohan will spend no more than 24 months in jail.
Mohan was present when the trial began as well as on July 9 when it continued. The matter was, however, stood down for a brief moment on this latter date. However, when it was later recalled, Mohan was absent.
The trial, which commenced on July 8, saw three witnesses taking the stand.
Prosecutor Renetta Bentham had said that on the day the offences were committed, at about 9:30am, Ifill was returning to his 114 Amla Avenue, Prashad Nagar home after being out for some time when he saw a bicycle in his yard.
Upon investigating, Bentham said that he observed Mohan exiting his house through the front door with a bag on his back.
This, Bentham said, caused Ifill to hold onto Mohan, who he took back into the house in a bid to ascertain if he had stolen anything from his house and placed it in the bag which he was carrying.
According to the prosecutor, it was while Ifill was opening the bag that Mohan retrieved a knife from the bag, with which he pierced Ifill to his abdomen.
Bentham said that a scuffle ensued between the two men, during which Ifill sustained several cuts to his hands, causing him to bleed profusely.
The matter was later reported to the police, after which Mohan was arrested and charged.
