A 25-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail after a jury found him guilty of wounding another man, whom he had shot.
Cobian Stephen was convicted of unlawfully wounding Devon Spencer on December 15th, 2007, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm or to maim, disfigure or disable him.
The convict had been indicted on two charges—wounding with intent, and attempted murder. He was, however, found guilty of committing the former.
At the start of his trial, he had pleaded not guilty to both indictments.
It was the state’s case that Stephen shot the complainant to his back, while declaring, “Yuh know how long ah want kill yuh!”
Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who presided over the trial, began the sentence at eight years, but deducted three years for the time he had previously spent in prison and an additional two years because he was 16 years old at the time of the crime.
The judge admonished the young man to see his sentence as an opportunity to chart a different course for himself.
Justice Barlow told him that he was still very young and should try to become gainfully employed in learning a craft or some trade so that he can make valuable contributions to society upon his release.
When given a chance to speak before sentencing, Stephen said he should not have been sentenced since, according to him, no evidence was presented of him wanting to kill anyone.
Justice Barlow, however, cautioned him that while the jury did not believe that he intended to murder Spencer, it was of the belief that he intentionally wounded him, and he was resultantly convicted.
“The jury had spoken and returned its verdict,” the judge declared.
Justice Barlow then told the young man that she was hoping he would have said that he was sorry for the incident.
The unremorseful Stephen, however, responded, “I can’t say sorry fuh wah me ain’t know.”
The state was represented by prosecutors Shawnette Austin, Tamieka Clarke and Tuanna Hardy. Stephen, meanwhile, represented himself.
