Violent husband jailed for 14 years
(CNS): An estranged husband who tried to kill his wife in a brutal, terrifying machete attack was handed a fourteen-year jail term last week after pleading guilty to attempted murder. George Vaughan lured his wife to the home they once shared when she believed he wouldn’t be there. But the man lay in wait, and as she let herself in, he struck with his weapon in a violent attack in which she sustained horrific injuries. Despite numerous witnesses, including children, Vaughan continued the frenzied attack on his wife and tried to poison her with weed killer as she lay close to death before he fled and tried to take his own life drinking the same poison.
The court heard that after Vaughan first assaulted his wife in 2013, the couple separated after some eight years of marriage. But Vaughan began harassing her about signing forms for his Caymanian status application, which she had refused to endorse. He began threatening and badgering his wife, turning up at her work because she had not revealed where she was living because of the violence. On one occasion, in front of a police officer, Vaughan threatened to take matters into his own hands.
The couple had dogs and despite the issues between them, Vaughan managed to lure his wife to the home to feed them because he told her he was working and unable to get back to do it. His wife did not go alone but with a friend, who also brought her children. But when they arrived, the wife entered the house alone.
As she went to prepare the dogs’ food, Vaughan, who was lying in wait, pounced, striking his wife in the back with the machete. She then fled towards the door but Vaughan continued chopping and hacking at his wife, almost amputating her legs and inflicting many terrible injuries.
Vaughan also threatened the onlookers and people trying to help with the machete, as they screamed at him to stop, but he continued the attack on his wife, pouring Paraquat into her mouth and slashing the tyres on her car before fleeing the scene.
His wife was taken to hospital and airlifted overseas, where doctors were able to save her life. After painstaking and lengthy treatment, they were also able to save her legs and repair some of the damage but she remains scarred and debilitated for life.
Meanwhile, Vaughan had fled into the bush, where he called a friend and was later found by police, He was also taken to hospital after he told them he had drunk the weed killer as well.
After he recovered and was released from hospital, he told police during interviews that he was at home sleeping when he heard someone come in the house. He said he grabbed a machete and chopped at the person before realising it was his wife. But he said that after he did realise, he didn’t know why he had carried on chopping, as the next thing he knew he was drinking the Paraquat.
He told police his mind had gone blank like a temporary madness.
The court heard that his wife sustained an 8cm laceration to her face, as well as gashes to her right ear and neck and several head injuries. She had chops to the back of her chest and Vaughan amputated one of her fingers. She had numerous deep lacerations down to bone on her body and he had almost amputated both legs before trying to finish her off with the poison.
Vaughan’s wife continues to receive treatment and surgeries for the numerous life-threatening injuries inflicted during what the judge said must have been an unimaginably terrifying and painful attack.
While Vaughan had a less than happy life growing up in Jamaica with a violent step-father, there was no indication from the psychiatric reports that Vaughan was suffering from any mental health problems. The court found that he had planned and prepared the premeditated attack and intended to kill his wife, as he hacked away at her in front of witnesses.
Although Vaughan had shown some remorse, writing to his wife asking for forgiveness, the judge said she was not entirely convinced because his remorse was still all about him and his troubles, though unbelievably his wife had found it in her heart to forgive him.
Visiting judge, Justice Dame Linda Dobbs, handed Vaughan a 21-year sentence, but given his guilty plea, the convicted man was credited with the usual one-third discount, reducing the time to 14 years.
Category: Local News
Can the general public get any clarity on what is happening to these non-Caymanian criminals once they are released from prison? There is never any “news” on criminals having being extradited or sent back home etc.
Are they put straight from prison onto a plane to their country? It is sad enough that we have such a high percentage of our own who are caught up in criminal activities, but what does Government do to ensure that those expats who have served prison time in Cayman do leave the jurisdiction and prevent them from coming back????
I know if they don’t have any strong ties here and they serve a year here in prison when they are released they are sent back to they home country
it because of males like him the inn9cent have to suffer in divorce
it’s because of unethical attorneys that men have to suffer in divorce… current judges are also former attorneys… bs system… they need to start disbarring unethical attorneys
Protection from domestic violence law was enacted in 2010. It did not protect 21-year-old Nichelle Anna-Kay Thomas who was killed in a machette attack in 2014.
Lots of self congratulating speaches, zero enforcement and protection from RCIPS. No one is responsible again for not doing their job.
Well ! He wanted status ! Alot of criminals in the Cayman Islands.. long overdue for that finger print setup, will that be included in the new airport deal?
I can’t believe what I just read. He is a monster and deserves life in prison. That poor poor woman. He has ruined her life.
Really disturbing crime committed….sentencing does not fit it though he should not be able to leave PRison
Whatless court again if anyone comes to my yard they are dead fu*k the justice system get a machete and say a prayer
Fantastic. They kind of got it right for this toad. Should have been life. Maybe he should have just run her down with his car. Then he would have only got 3 months. Lol
Prison is not a deterrent in the Cayman Islands. This man should be sent back to his country to spend the 14 years and anyone from outside the country should be sent the same , back to their country.
Yet another criminal from Jamaica living in the Jamaican colony of Bodden Town. So many of them are described as “a man from Bodden Town” in the crime reports in the media. It’s sickening for those of us who really are Bodden Towners.
Jerk…blatantly racist and offensive.
No – blatantly true and accurate – and nothing to do with race. This political correctness has to stop. We need to face up to the fact that some of our neighbors are among the most crime ridden and corrupt on earth. Significant criminal elements from those places (and others) are being allowed to take up and maintain residence here. Every time one comes and stays it is because our systems have failed us. That scum is not a Bodden-Towner. He is a foreign criminal.
Funny that a true Bodden Towner harbours illegal Jamaican immigrants when she is supposed to keep them out.
While I agree with your racist comment there is something that you need to look at. This man has betrayed all Jamaicans through his actions. He helps make a case for those that want to be biased in their own way. All of us know that there is good and bad in every country but because of people like him Jamaicans get branded as criminals.
We caymanians know the problem of branding as we cant find jobs because we are branded as lazy and uneducated for those that want to get their own people the jobs.
I imagine 10:18 that you (a) do not live in Bodden Town and (b) have not read carefully the local media reports of the many Jamaican criminals who have been apprehended in our district, possibly because of the high number of very cheap accommodation, mostly owned by other Jamaicans. Nor have they all been apprehended yet but when we tell the Police they say “what can we do-insufficient evidence?”. I am not the original poster @ 8:44pm but I can assure you he/she got it right. Even the tongue in cheek “Jamaican colony of Bodden Town” has an enormous amount of truth in it. That accent, followed by Spanish is FAR commoner than our Caymanian one.
Can the truth ever be said to be racist 10:18? Is there such a thing as a racist truth?
For that kind of horrific planned and pre-meditated attack all he got was 14 years, he’ll probably be out in 10 if not less, yet his wife’s life is now ruined.
This man almost amputated her legs and then tried to pour poison down her throat?!? WTF?!?! He should be out in jail for life. In front of witnesses and children.
I’m disgusted with the ‘slap on the wrist’ sentences given out for violent crimes in this country.
Where is the outrage from government and the churches?
Cayman deserves everything it has coming to it.
So this abuse went on for 8 years.
So called christian country.
It says a lot about this society of christian hypocrites.
You are such a hateful person 4:37pm. What part of growing up in Jamaica did you not understand. This demon was imported. Trust me, if the good people of Cayman local and foreign alike could refuse his kind we would continue to have a good Christian society.
Good people of Cayman? Not a lot of that around here.
4:37 pm , We’re still waiting for the anti-abuse rally to be scheduled at the lions center but it seems consenting adults who love each other are a greater concern to this “christian nation”.
But I thought you were organizing it.
Deportation Order?
Yes, he should be deported as soon as he is released. The US has a policy that landed immigrants are escorted back to their home countries on being released from jail. We need to do this also and make sure they do not return ever.
Thank God we have a visa system with Jamaica and I hope that is never rescinded.
And, yes, this man is clearly totally out of control. He had no thought for the consequences to his wife, others, or even himself.
But the prosecution have not asked for one, and the court has not ordered deportation. It seems they never do. Why?
Check who most of the prosecutors are and you will understand why they are not deported.
Justice has been served. We need to have some faith in the justice system. His wife has forgiven him and he has shown some remorse. Let us all pray for them and hope that they live a long and prosperous life despite the the huge hurdles both will have to deal with.
I am saddened that Mrs. Vaughan had to endure this ordeal so let us send up a special prayer for her. May God pour out a special blessing upon her!!
@2:02- No disrespect to your beliefs, but perhaps ‘God’ could have intervened or “poured blessings” on her BEFORE she was brutally and horribly attacked and left dibilitated and maimed for life.
6:56 pm, you don’t get it, the blessings we’re already there. How do you think she survived? By being airlifted to a more technologically advanced medical trauma center run by specialised doctors? It was obviously a miracle.
@S – the miracle is the knowledge that God gave the paramedics, doctors and nurses in order to save her life. The miracle is also the knowledge that God gave man to create technology to save lives. Another thing, it was not her time to pass on – we all have our appointed time which no one can run from. My heart goes out to Ms Vaughan because of the amount of mental and physical suffering she has gone through, and unfortunately, will continue to struggle with for the rest of her life.
It’s a miracle you believe that nonsense.
@2:02 He had shown some remorse, give me a break please. This scumbag has no feelings and I would never forgive if something like this happens. The Justice system is broken and just like a contagious disease, is spread around the world….14 years is not enough for this crime.
This is way beyond frightening , my God this guy isn’t human , this mat be a terrible thing to say / but in my opinion , he should Never be released from custody , unless its in a wooden box .
This maniac will be out of prison in a few years for attempted murder and grevious bodily harm. Wtf?
This is real scary. He should never get out of jail. He’s completely psycho. I can’t begin to imagine what that poor woman is going through.
I refuse to sponsor this S-of-a-Bs livelihood in Northward as a taxpayer!
70,000$ x 14 years is too much money wasted on this worthless scumbag!
Contact JA authorities please and deport him today, our country simply cannot afford to spend $980,000 feeding, clothing and housing something like this!
His actions were plainly demonic, how disgusting, and gosh he love to chop! Machete, machete, machete – these crimes are horrible! Remember the lady a few years ago chopped to death?
Get this man off this island!
Our Government took the time to strike an agreement with Cuba sentencing refuge-seekers to dreadful sea-deaths and starvation instead of offering water and food but we can feed and house a demon like this?
No way, this man should not be given the luxury of Northward because believe me JA prisons would sort him out properly!
This is horrible, that poor lady, and those little children on-looking such a heinous incident, dear God!
So I guess that answers my previous question… The prison is full. It appears to me that one can commit any crime they like and be given a slap on the wrist in the Cayman Islands. Truly frightening stuff.