Craigg sentenced to five-and-a-half years

Shorn Carlon Craigg, the man who viciously assaulted his girlfriend causing her to be paralysed, was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment earlier this week.{{more}}

On March 20, 2010, during a dispute at their home in Edinboro, Criagg smashed a hammer twice into Jolene Charles’ head, beat her with a cutlass, then stabbed her with a screwdriver in her back, leaving the 23-year-old mother of two paralysed from the waist down.

Prosecutor Inspector Adolphus Delpesche reported that Charles has been discharged from the hospital and doctors have stated that nothing more can be done to improve her condition.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on April 13, Charles, who had been in a relationship with Craigg for seven years, remained hopeful that she would walk again someday.

Charles and Craigg are the parents to two children, aged six and three years old.

After hearing the facts, Chief Magistrate Sonya Young said she was of the view that Craigg’s intention was to kill Charles. “It seems to me as if your intention was to kill this woman, and your behaviour was of a most repulsive and cruel nature,” Young stated.

In a soft tone, Magistrate Young told Criagg that he has taken away Charles’ mobility and caused her to lose the quality of life to which she is accustomed. “I am not considering anything other than a custodial sentence. I will not give you a slap on the wrist, because I must be fair to the victim,” Young said.

The Chief Magistrate further noted that a strong message needs to be sent out when “men feel they can do women these kinds of things.”

In reply, Craigg, with no sign of emotion on his face, expressed sympathy for Charles. “I sorry for the problem I cause she and she family and I sorry ‘bout the situation ‘bout she being paralysed, but me ain’t beat she wid no cutlass,” he said.

After the sentence was handed down, Criagg said: “Thank you, your worship”.(KW)