Al Tyson, a 34-year-old security guard employed with Guardsman Ltd, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for assaulting his common-law partner, Colleena Williams. The incident occurred on the night of July 13, 2025, at Williams’ residence in Glen.
Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie ruled on Wednesday that Tyson must serve six months of his sentence in prison, with the remaining 18 months suspended for a period of 18 months. He was also ordered to pay Williams EC$2,000 in compensation immediately, or face an additional 12 months in prison.
The court heard that around 10:30 p.m. on the night of the incident, a heated argument between Tyson and Williams escalated violently. Tyson spat on Williams and physically assaulted her—first with his hands, then with a cutlass—as she tried to flee the house to seek help. He reportedly swung the cutlass at her head, which she narrowly dodged. Tyson also damaged a bedroom door, a steel burglar-barred gate valued at EC$585.35, and a laptop belonging to Williams’ 15-year-old sister, valued at US$200.
Williams later escaped and reported the matter to police. She told the court she still struggles to eat properly due to an injury to her gum caused during the assault. When asked by the magistrate if she still loved Tyson, she replied, “Yes.”
Tyson initially pleaded guilty to all charges when he appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on July 16. He was not represented at the time.
Magistrate McKenzie had previously ordered Tyson to pay:
EC$1,000 compensation or serve one year in prison for damaging the laptop.
EC$585.35 for the gate, with EC$170 to be paid immediately or face three months in prison, and the remaining EC$365.35 due by August 15 or six months imprisonment.
On July 23, sentencing on the assault charge was completed. Tyson, this time represented by attorney Jolanie Williams, sought leniency. The lawyer argued that while Tyson’s actions were wrong, the incident stemmed from a dispute over money, and that both parties contributed to the argument. He cited provocation and urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.
The attorney also noted that Tyson:
Pleaded guilty early.
Had no previous convictions.
Was genuinely remorseful.
Had already spent one week on remand.
He proposed that Tyson and Williams attend counselling at Marion House for conflict resolution and anger management—an idea the magistrate supported.
However, Magistrate McKenzie, after weighing the mitigating and aggravating factors using the sentencing guidelines, concluded that a custodial sentence was necessary.
“This is a serious matter,” she said, emphasizing the need for Tyson to spend time in prison to reflect on his actions.
Source : The Vincentian