Suspended sentence and compensation ordered for heavy hammer attacker

A Canouan man, who struck his co-worker in the head with a heavy hammer was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay compensation.

Randolph “Junie” De Roche, 58, appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate, Tammika McKenzie on September 26, 2024, where he pleaded guilty that on September 15, 2024, at Canouan, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded John King, 39, of Canouan by striking him on his head with a hammer.

The facts are that King and DeRoche know each other very well. They were both employed by Michael DeRoche of Balance, Canouan, and Canada, to rebuild a restaurant, bar and store owned by Carlitha DeRoche of Balance.

At about 7:00 a.m on the date in question, work began on the site. Both King and DeRoche were working in the same area which used to be the restaurant and bar.

They were responsible for clearing the wooden frame which remained of the building. Both of them were equipped with a pig foot and a heavy hammer.

King placed his cellular phone in a corner of the building and went to work in the section that used to be the kitchen. When DeRoche saw the cell phone, he asked King who owns it, to which King responded that it belonged to him.

De Roche then asked him who would be responsible for the phone if it got damaged. King told him that he would accept responsibility.

King then took up his cell phone, placed it in his front pocket and returned to where he was working. He left De Roche standing a few feet away in the area of the building which used to be the open bar.

As King bent over to lift a piece of wood, he received a blow to the top of his head. He was knocked semi-unconscious and fell to his knees.

About two minutes later, King regained full consciousness and felt pain in his head, and a warm liquid running down his face. He took his hand and wiped his forehead and noticed he was bleeding.

King looked around and saw DeRoche standing next to him with the heavy hammer. King was assisted by his employer, Michael De Roche, and was taken to the Canouan Clinic to seek medical attention.

King also reported the matter to the Canouan Police where PC 985 George entertained his report. A written statement was recorded from King, and investigations were carried out into the report.

On September 20, 2024 about 2:00 p.m, DeRoche was present at the station on the request of the police. He was informed of the report made against him and was cautioned and interviewed by PC 985 George in the presence of Cpl 664 Wright.

De Roche volunteered a statement which was recorded, after which

De Roche agreed that the statement was true and correct.

He was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence of wounding. After the facts were read, King told the court that his life has changed following the incident.

He said that he suffers migraine headaches, experiences dizziness and eye-turns, and was still seeking medical attention up to the date of this appearance in court.

He sustained a laceration to his head causing him to receive six stitches. Senior Magistrate McKenzie told DeRoche that he could have been charged with a much more serious offence than wounding, and said that his actions were “significantly unacceptable.”

McKenzie then sentenced De Roche to two years and 11 months in prison. However, she suspended that sentence for two years. De Roche was also ordered to compensate King in the amount of $3,500.

He was ordered to pay $1,800 forthwith or serve an 11 month prison sentence. The balance is to be paid in eight months or he will be imprisoned for one year.