Man ordered to pay $10,000 after chopping another over sunshades

A South Ruimveldt man who yesterday pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding another during an argument over sunglasses, was ordered by a city court to compensate the victim.

According to the police prosecutor in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, on November 3, at Hummingbird Street, Festival City, at around 1.30 pm, the defendant, Kwasi Thompson, 43, and the victim, Percival Duncan, were drinking as they were preparing to go to a wedding.

Duncan, however, decided not to go to the wedding and retired to his house instead.  When Duncan later came out of the house, Thompson approached him and took away his sunglasses, claiming it to be his.

An argument ensued between the two and Thompson, who had been weeding in the yard next to Duncan’s, “fired his chopper” towards Duncan’s arm, hitting it, causing it to bleed. Duncan was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital and Thompson was arrested.

The defendant, in his explanation, said that on the date in question, he was called to weed the premises next to Duncan’s and he brought three sunglasses with him. He reported that he took off the shades and rested them on a table. Thompson said Duncan picked up one of the shades and took it into his home.

He further claimed that later, when Duncan came out of his house, he asked him for the shades and Duncan began hitting him with his fist. In his anger, Thompson took the chopper and began swinging it over Duncan’s head but Duncan ducked and he missed. There was no sign of bleeding.

In the midst of the hearing, Thompson apologized to Duncan and asked the victim to be merciful in the spirit of Christmas, adding that he would do anything to help him out during the season.

The defendant was ordered by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to compensate Duncan, who suffered a chop to his right arm, the sum of $10,000 by January 2, 2019. If Thompson fails to compensate the victim, he will be arrested.