Okeno Edwards was spared immediate jail time last week for burglary, even though he lied to the Court that the Complainant had owed him EC$7,000 in cash for marijuana.
The 31-year-old farmer of Petit Bordel was sentenced to six months in prison, but that sentence was suspended for one year.
“It’s all up to you, Mr. Edwards,” Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett told the defendant after imposing the suspended sentence.
On June 24, at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, Edwards pleaded guilty to entering the Liquor and Provision Shop of 72-year-old Mathias Nanton of Petit Bordel between June 22 and 23, and stealing EC$340 in cash, EC$25.50 in coins, and a quantity of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The money and the drinks amounted to EC$536.50.
Edwards told the Court then that Nanton owed him EC$7,000 for marijuana. As a result, Burnett adjourned the matter to hear from Nanton.
The sentencing was adjourned to June 27, but as soon as Nanton took the stand, Edwards admitted that he had lied on him.
“You didn’t know I was going to call him (Nanton)?” the Magistrate asked.
“What you did on Friday was a terrible thing. You don’t lie on a man like that,” Burnett told him sternly.
Edwards said he was frustrated.
Burnett then stood down the matter to have issues regarding Edwards’ criminal record cleared up.
When the proceedings resumed, Burnett told Edwards, “Based on your record you have seven previous convictions,” and asked him, “Why you broke into the man’s business place?”
Edwards replied, “I don’t know how it happened.”
But the Magistrate reminded him, “You broke into the man’s shop and you stole the items. That’s how it happened.”
Prosecutor Curlene Samuel confirmed that all the items were recovered.
“You damaged his door as well to gain entry, so there should have been another charge for damage to property,” the Magistrate observed.
Edwards said he had two children, ages 3 and 5.
“Do you maintain those children?” the Magistrate inquired.
“When me get,” Edwards replied.
Responding to other questions from the Magistrate, Edwards said he dropped out of school in Form 2, some years ago.
Edwards also revealed that he had gone to prison for six months on a marijuana charge, but that was not reflected on his record.
“The aggravating features are that you burglarized a shop, and you told a huge lie on the virtual complainant,” the Magistrate told him.
Prosecutor Samuel told the Court, “The record is not up to date. It is not the first time he broke the shop. He broke the shop during the period of the volcanic eruption.”
The Prosecutor noted the Complainant had made a report then, but did not go any further because of the circumstances at the time.
The Magistrate, in highlighting the mitigating factors, noted that Edwards pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, all the items were recovered, and he appeared to show genuine remorse.
“He disclosed to me that he went to prison for six months for marijuana. That’s not on record here. I am going to give you a chance to see what you would do with it,” the Magistrate told him.