Court orders Brac woman to avoid booze

(CNS): A Cayman Brac woman convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on the basis of excessive self-defence has received a 12 month probation order, 200 hours of community service and has been ordered to stay off the booze for the next twelve months. Katie Jo Powell (26) admitted stabbing Anthony de la Torre (29) but had pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in connection with an alcohol-fuelled altercation in the early hours of 20 April 2013 in the West End area of the Brac, when the victim was stabbed in the neck, face, chest and both hands.

Powell stood trial last October during a very rare session of Grand Court on Cayman Brac for attempted murder and a lesser offence of maliciously wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm during an incident where the victim was stabbed in the neck, face, chest and both hands. However, after one day of testimony, in which the court heard wildly differing versions of events that night, the crown agreed to accept a plea to the third charge, which was added to her indictment.

“Everyone had had too much alcohol,” Justice Charles Quin noted in his summation, in light of the evidence given by the victim, the defendant and the friends she had been out with that night.

In the sentencing hearing on Cayman Brac earlier this month, Justice Quin ordered Powell to stay off the drink. He explained that the conditions of her probation including stopping the use of any illegal drugs but also that she was not to consume alcohol or to enter any liquor licensed premises.

He told her she would be subjected to weekly drug testing, was to attend counselling and to meet with mental health staff. In addition to the twelve month probation order, Powell was instructed to perform 200 hours of community service during the course of the next twelve months.

The judge also stated that Powell, who does not have custody of her three children, was to have supervised visits in order to wholesomely build her relationship with them.