Home invaders jailed for two years in foiled burglary
Cayman Islands courthouse
(CNS): Two local men were handed two-year jail terms after admitting an aggravated burglary at a condo in Cayman Reef Resort on the West Bay Road last November, in which the young adults left empty handed. Brandon Browning (19) and Jamie McLean (21) pleaded guilty to the home invasion, which they said happened on the spur of the moment under the influence of drugs and booze.
The court heard last month during the sentencing hearing that the incident happened when the pair, who admitted they had consumed alcohol and smoked ganja, were leaving Royal Palms and waiting for a ride at around 10pm on the night of 7 November. After they spotted a couple going into an apartment at the nearby condos, they set off towards the apartment with the intention of getting jewellery from the couple. However, they had made no plans before then to commit any crime.
They knocked on the door of the apartment and Browning, who was carrying a knife, pulled it out as the man living at the apartment opened the door, telling him to “cough up”. But when another man started coming down the stairs, Browning dropped the knife and his intended victim grabbed him. A struggle ensued which included McLean as well, but when Browning broke free and the second man began shouting, McLean picked up the knife and the pair fled the scene empty handed.
As Justice Robin McMillian delivered his ruling Monday, based on sentencing guidelines and the circumstances of the crime, the young men’s background and their lack of previous related offences, he handed both of them three-year jail terms, which were reduced to two as a result of their early admission.
The judge said it was an “extremely serious” offence but, based on social enquiry reports, both of the young men showed promise, if they could address their abuse of alcohol and ganja, to lead productive lives.
“For this reason their respective sentences are no longer than are necessary in the public interest in all of the circumstances of the case,” the judge said.
hahaha what a joke! wonder if they were x-pats what they would have gotten. Wonder what the judge would do if there was an attempted ARMED robbery at her house?
When I first read this I thought “There’s a major typo here: two years for committing such a heinous crime – a stab in the chest towards every man, woman and child whose livelihoods depend on our society’s reputation as a safe place to vacation? It can’t be right.” For God’s sake, can the prosecution not appeal the sentence? Somebody please assure me they can.
This sentencing is a complete joke and the judge should be ashamed. What they don’t mention is the one perpetrator was about stab one of the residents when the other resident came down the stairs and “foiled” it – that’s attempted murder!! These “promising” young men will most likely get out of jail and make sure the next crime is successful!
I hope all those touting to legalize Ganga reads this. The perps themselves blamed their actions on alcohol and Ganga. While alcohol is already legal it would be double trouble to legalize Ganga . If anything the sentences need to be longer instead of the judge reducing it. We are lucky we are not looking at at murder or serious injury from this incident. I guess the judge has never had to deal with something like this before so he really do not understand the trauma it causes. The victims will never forget this and the judge should have ensure that the perps would not either. Law and order is slipping away slowly but surely and it appears that only a few is prepared to do something about it but as we can see they have to fight the establishment to even have a discussion. Too many people asleep at the wheel- please run to the rescue of SHIP CAYMAN before it is too late.
I think it is more likely that the ganja resulted in the bungling of the attempted robbery. Trying to do anything productive after smoking weed is like urinating into the wind – it can be done but usually with piss poor results.
The ganja didn’t tell them, hey dudes lets go rob dem people. It’s call bad broughtupsy! Kids these days are not being tought manners or respect. The same goes to those people and buses that think the center lane on West Bay road is just for their personal use and the hundreds of people taking a right turn on Old Crew road every week day, while it benefits them, they are the ones causing the traffic in the first place. Manners teaches u to wait ur turn and respect teaches you how to treat people.
I don’t understand this sentence either. I just checked section 244 of the Penal Code which is Aggravated Burglary (basically a burglary with a weapon) and the maximum sentence is LIFE in prison. Now I appreciate they get credit for a guilty plea etc. and so they should, but how does it come down to just 2 years? (of which they will serve a year). Can the Legal department appeal sentence? Of all the crimes we are hearing about these home invasions are the scariest.
The Legal Department will not ask for a longer jail term, they got the win on their CV!
It is past time for homeowners to be prepared to deal with situations. I would wonder, what will happen when the intruder has to face the music that he played for himself. Just curious. One day the bottom will fall out of the bucket.
No Alternative Ed. That’s what you get! More to come.
These two young men have promise!. Give them a chance with the RCIPS, we may have material for a local born and bred Commissioner here.
more great caymanian parenting…..
How do you know?
East Enders
joke sentence….
gang culture alive and well in cayman….
time for society to shun this lifestyle….
muppetts-4-life
Yes the sentence was appallingly light. The judge apparently isn’t taking the matter seriously. No wonder crime in Cayman is increasing by the week.
As my family has been victim of a home invasion I know that the trauma experienced by the victims will impact their lives way beyond two yours, so why the criminals got away with a slap on their wrist is beyond me and certainly not something that can be called justice.!
Two years for this “extremely serious” offence is completely absurd!! Our judicial system is as much of a failure as RCIPS!! Whenever a case manages to be strong enough for conviction, the judge gives them a slap on the wrist??!!
Does anyone on the bench appreciate what a home invasion is and the impact that it has on the victim?? This is not a simple burglary!! Someone who is prepared to enter your home when you are there is prepared to harm you!! Two years (about a few months with time served, etc.etc) is an INSULT to public safety.
Hope the DPP appeals this sentence!!
If there was no premeditation why did one have a knife?
The knife was carried for bar fights and parking lot brawls only. Certainly not for accidental home invasions. The young thugs have standards you know.
The knife wasn’t for the robbery, it’s for the standard car park fight after the bars / clubs close.
I agree completely with Dos XX. We FINALLY hear about the perpetrators of a home invasion being brought before the courts and they are given a measly 2 year sentence. Two years is the punishment for a petty theft NOT a home invasion which is a serious and violent crime. Giving them one year off because they told the truth early is a joke. No wonder Cayman the crime in Cayman is escalating and has become totally out of control. Every week you can read about several very serious crimes occurring. Our family of long term tourists will never come back after being the victim of a home invasion on your island. And we are not alone. The number of tourists who become victims of crime during a short visit to your island is truly staggering.
Cha! leev mi pritti barmaids alone
Deportation order?
Deport your own criminals…jeez everytime someone gets jailed the deporters come out in force-doesn’t matter if they are Caymanian or from elsewhere. As Northward is pretty much full of Caymanians, how about you put your own shop right first and then you can start on the expats..otherwise you are in breach of various human rights laws, not that Cayman cares about that stuff.
In the last week 5 expats got imprisoned for credit card scams and one for murder. Just sayin.
5 out of how many? And they were visiting criminals not Caymanians or residents. But don’t let facts get in the way!
OK. So only the murderer was resident. None, however were Caymanian.
Deport to where? They are locals.
How do you know? Were any of them granted status? Being local means nothing. Being born here means nothing. Are they Caymanian?
Deportation an option?
Yes it is. It’s called a prison ship. Personally I’d have sentenced these two xxxxxxxs to 15 years hard labour on board scrubbing the decks and having to fish for their food. I’d consider that a “light” sentence for what they did.
Just checking the ship is not called Honduras etc. With scary frequency people are assumed to be Caymanians when in fact they might not be.
Should have got 25 years for an armed home invasion. This was a dangerous violent crime and these little slap on the wrist sentences are a big part of the problem.
Blame it on alcohol & weed ! Not !
Two years what a joke!!! The whole system in the cayman islands is a joke. They went there with a knife….luckily no one got hurt