An optometrist was yesterday ordered to pay $250,000 in compensation or face eight months in prison after slashing the tyres of his wife’s vehicle and damaging her laptop.
Bernard Da Silva, of 316 Middle Street, Georgetown, was brought before Magistrate Ann McLennan on two charges. When the charge of threatening behaviour towards his wife Devika Da Silva was read to him by the magistrate, Bernard pleaded not guilty. However, he pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously damaging a Dell laptop and four car tyres, which were the property of Devika. The total value of the items was estimated at $263,000.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones shared with the court that Bernard and Devika are husband and wife but had separated eight months ago. However, he said Bernard would often visit Devika’s home to see their two-year-old daughter.
On January 15, Jones said, Devika went out with her cousin and returned home at about 11:20pm. After parking her car on the parapet, she was approached by Bernard. According to reports, the man had a knife in his hand. It is then, Jones said, Bernard asked her to exit the car. However, out of fear, she refused to do so. The man then proceeded to use the knife to puncture the four tyres of Devika’s car. The woman still refused to exit the vehicle, Jones said. It is then the defendant went upstairs into Devika’s home, picked up her Dell laptop and threw it into a gutter.
In his defence, Bernard stated that his actions were due to pent-up frustration. According to him, his wife would always find some way to irk him whether it was by ignoring his requests or returning home later than she had said she would. He said that she had burnt his clothes and damaged his windshield in the past. Though Devika admitted to having burnt her husband’s clothes, she denied damaging his windshield.
On the night in question, Bernard said that he had come out of the house with the intention of talking to Devika but she had refused. He added that she had even been laughing while the incident occurred. Though he admitted to having the knife, he objected to the claims which stated that he had used the knife threateningly.
Bernard offered to pay for the damage immediately and was ordered to do so by Magistrate McLennan or face eight months in prison. He was also placed on a bond and $5,000 bail for his threatening behaviour charge and is to return to court 10 on February 7.
