Magistrate urges Sharpes woman to keep her anger in check

A woman from Redemption Sharpes was warned by a Senior Magistrate to keep her anger in check, after she slapped her relative for allegedly getting her fired from work.

Donna Defreitas-Baptiste appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Tammika McKenzie on Thursday, September 26, 2024 where she was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty that on September 6, 2024 at Kingstown, she assaulted Klairason Defreitas of Redemption Sharpes, causing actual bodily harm.

The facts are that Klairason and Donna, both relatives, work together at General Maritime Agency. They had no previous altercations.

On the date in question at about 2:00 p.m, Klairason was at work when Donna began shouting and accusing Klairason of carrying news about her to their boss.

Donna approached Klairason and struck him to the left side of his face, causing him to sustain injuries. Later that same date, the matter was reported to officers at the Criminal Investigation Department where PC 521 Harry entertained and conducted investigations into Klairason’s report. On September 20, 2024 Donna arrived at the station as requested by the police where she was informed of the report that was made against her.

Later that day, PC 521 Harry cautioned and interviewed Donna in respect of the said report in the presence of PC 927 Patrick. Donna volunteered a statement in writing and admitted to the offence. PC 521 Harry later arrested and charged Donna for the offence of assault bodily harm. After the facts were read, Donna told the court that she was provoked and lied about many times by Klairason.

“I was angry because he made me got fired,” she added.

She claimed that Klairason told their boss that he can do his job without her. “Twenty-seven years go down the drain just to help a family,” Donna continued, adding that she never got herself in these kinds of situations.

She said that Klairason wanted her out so he can do whatever he wants. “He just telling lies, lies, lies for what reason? I don’t know,” she said in court.

Donna said too that Klairason is like a son to her and though she was angry, she didn’t “go to hit him.” Donna said that she has two sons, aged 14 and 18.

“This is not me,” she said, adding that she is a Christian and acted out of character. Senior Magistrate McKenzie placed the offence in Category three, Level A and began sentencing at two years and three months.

Among the factors considered, was that the offence was motivated by revenge, but found that there was a lack of premeditation.

Mckenzie further considered that Donna is of good character and gave her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.

Donna had spent no time on remand. After considering the mitigating and aggravating factors of both offence and offender, McKenzie decreased the sentence to one year and five months in prison, but suspended it for one year.

McKenzie advised Donna to “keep your anger in check,” inhale and exhale, then count to 100 whenever similar situations arise.