Saucepan Attack: Suspended Sentence

A man who attacked his stepson with a saucepan was given a suspended sentence today [Dec.19], as well as 18 months probation during which he must take anger management courses, and refrain from using illegal drugs.

47-year old Jerry Eastmond Williams, dressed in prison garb, appeared in Supreme Court #1 facing Justice Carlyle Greaves earlier today.

Mr Williams will soon be a free man again, but he will have a six month suspended jail sentence hanging over his head for the next eighteen months, and will be under a Probation Order with conditions attached for all of those eighteen months.

Mr Williams had been convicted in Supreme Court of the offence of unlawfully wounding another man – his 18-year-old stepson William Smith.

The wounding had been a small laceration and, as Justice Greaves pointed out, the assault had not involved a knife, a gun, a machete, or even a block of wood, It had been pot – a saucepan – that had been to hand and the matter was between and in front of family members.

Justice Greaves said that Mr Williams was ‘bullheaded’, strong headed, and impatient and set a bad example for his sons.

In light of all the evidence and the nature of the injury, the DPP had asked for a custodial sentence of two years.

However, his defence lawyer  argued for a three month sentence which, with the two months already served on remand taken into account, would mean that Mr Williams could be released immediately.

Mr Williams, speaking for himself told the Justice that: “I’ve been working construction all my life. I have five children. I still love them and I wish it could have been different. I’ve raised responsible children. I do admit that I’ve been harsh, but that’s how I was brought up. That’s what I was taught.”

Mr Williams also said that the time that he had already spent on remand at Westgate Correctional Facility had been beneficial to him. Whilst on remand, he had: “….seen the ‘young boys’ up there and they bring tears to my eyes. It’s time for a change.”

Saying that his behavior set a poor example for his son, Justice Greaves said that his showing and teaching his son that he should respond immediately and strongly to any slight or problem was not the right or the best way.

However, in all the circumstances the injury that was inflicted was minor. Justice Greaves ended his reasoning by saying that Mr Williams seemed to be a man who should be given one final opportunity.

Justice Greaves then ordered that Mr Williams should be released today.

However, the Justice said that he would impose a six month custodial sentence, suspend that custodial sentence for eighteen months, and, during that eighteen months, he ordered Mr Eastmond-Williams to be on Probation and follow all orders and instructions from his assigned Probation Officer, take anger management and conflict resolution courses, attend the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre, and refrain from using alcohol and illegal drugs.

Just before rising, Justice Greaves gave this parting comment to Mr Eastmond-Williams: “Let this be the last time that you appear in Court.”

#CrimeInBermuda #MagistratesAndSupremeCourt

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