Alfred Braithwaite, 42, who was last month found guilty of restraining a man to be chopped due to a row over the gambling winnings, was yesterday afternoon sentenced to 13 years behind bars.
A jury a month ago convicted the former taxi driver on the charge of attempting to murder of Shefton Hamer on January 27, 2017,
At Braithwaite’s sentencing-hearing yesterday, the father of six said that he was sorry for the injuries sustained by the virtual complainant (VC), but remained adamant that he had nothing to do with the commission of the crime.
In his impassioned plea to the court that his attacker be visited with the maximum sentence however, Hamer said that he is still shocked that Braithwaite, whom he has known for about 20 years, would try to have him killed.
In his emotional address to the court, Hamer said that the attack has left him with significantly declining health, which sees him constantly being hospitalised. He then went on to detail that the injuries he sustained have left him with irreparable nerve damage, resulting in physical disability and inability to work.
He said he is unable to run, bend or bear any weight on his left leg, while adding that because of the “permanent bone and nerve damage, walking will forever be a difficult task for me.”
He also complained of suffering from migraines because of the slash he sustained to his head, which also interferes with his ability to see clearly, and memorise and process information quickly.
Hamer added that he constantly feels dizzy and lightheaded and is also unable to tolerate bright lights or the sun for long periods.
In a mitigating plea, defence attorney Teriq Mohammed asked Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall to consider that his client had no antecedents and while he remained adamant that he was not involved in the crime, he nonetheless expressed remorse for the harm meted out to the complainant.
Prosecutor Caressa Henry, however, asked the judge to impose a sentence that would reflect the nature and gravity of the offence, while noting that his expression of remorse was far from genuine as he failed to accept responsibility for his actions.
Against this background, she reminded that the jury had accepted the evidence that it was Braithwaite who had restrained Hamer to be chopped by another.
She also asked the judge to consider the physical, mental, psychological and financial challenges with which the complainant is still confronted daily, and asked that a strong message be sent to potential offenders that violence would not be tolerated.
Justice Morris-Ramlall said that after consider both the aggravating and mitigating factors, 14 years was an appropriate base. Therefrom, she deducted one year for the mitigating factors to the offender’s credit.
In addition to the sentence, the judge ordered that Braithwaite participate in anger-management sessions while behind bars.
The case for the prosecution had been that Braithwaite and Hamer were playing a game of cards on the day in question when an argument ensued over the winnings.
The court had heard during the trial that Braithwaite left the scene and returned in the company of another man, who was armed with a cutlass.
It was that man, the court heard, who began chopping Hamer, as Braithwaite sat on him (Hamer), restraining him from moving and encouraging the man to “kill he, kill he.”
The complainant, who was chopped about his body, had to be rushed to the hospital, where he was admitted as a patient.
A police investigation was launched, which later led to Braithwaite being arrested and charged.
