St James man gets suspended sentence for stabbing driver

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:A St James man, who stabbed a bus driver during a fight last December, was given a suspended sentence when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Forty-two-year-old Glenford Jackson, of a Montego Bay address, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years, after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding committed against Roderick Anderson.

The court was told that on December 27, 2012, Jackson and Anderson were involved in a dispute at the Montego Bay bus park. During the dispute, Anderson opened his bus door, hitting Jackson in the process, and also threw a soup cup at the defendant. A fight ensued and Jackson used a knife to stab Anderson in the back.

In court, Jackson's lawyer, Martyn Thomas, asked Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tie to show leniency to his client.

"He has shown remorse, and members of his community say he is not a violent man, though he is a bit 'ignorant'," Thomas said. "I would submit that he is not a habitual offender ... and he is willing to assist the complainant in moving on."

Anderson, who was present in court, told the magistrate that he wanted to be compensated for his injury.

"For about two months, I lost work, so I am asking for $50,000," said Anderson.

"How long did you spend in hospital?" asked Tie.

"About five days," said Anderson.

In sentencing Jackson, Tie noted that the defendant had been to court once before for a similar offence.

"You have pleaded guilty in this matter, but this is the second time you have been before the court for this kind of offence. I am not going to send you to prison, but he (Anderson) is going to sue you, and he can sue you for a lot of money," Tie told Jackson.

"The sentence of the court is two years, suspended for three years. If you get in trouble for the next three years, you are going to prison," the magistrate added.