Sentence suspended for local musician
(CNS); Popular country music performer Dexter Bodden (61) will not be going to prison after a judge suspended the 20-month sentence he received for a conviction for wounding. The local entertainer had pleaded guilty to the charge following an incident back in 2016, when he woke up and found a man in his truck outside his home who he believed was trying to steal it. In what Bodden accepted was an excessive response, he attacked the would-be thief with a machete, causing him serious injuries.
As Justice Marlene Carter handed down her decision on Friday, she said that, given all of the circumstances, from Bodden’s genuine remorse to the high esteem in which he is held by many referees, even though the conviction was for a serious offence, it was appropriate to suspend the sentence. She said Bodden was described as having integrity and was “a credit to society”.
However, she ordered Bodden to attend an anger management programme and set out a payment plan for him to pay half of the medical fees that the intruder had incurred as a result of the injuries he sustained.
From the moment of his arrest Bodden had admitted he had gone too far and regretted his actions, but he said he was angry, having being burgled several times before. The police did not initially charge him for the assault.
However, several months later Bodden himself was shot, sustaining a life-threatening injury. When he recovered and asked the police about how that inquiry was progressing, he was charged with the assault on the man.
While no one has ever been charged in the case, the man whom Bodden assaulted was arrested and remains on police bail as a suspect in the case.
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I have the right to defend my family, my property and, myself. Anyone who trespass on those will be dealt with. Criminals walk through the “law” with no fear.
I refuse to live in fear. Someone will die if they try me.
As usual, the Cayman Islands are oblivious to what is right and wrong. He is no national treasure…..he is a criminal. It does not matter what he may be to you as an individual or “ caymaniN”, He is a Criminal.
No I didn’t correct caymanin…didn’t see the point. No one would notice the difference.
Donkeys
If your gonna be a anti-caymanian discriminative commenter, it would help if you knew how to spell Caymanian. And use proper grammar so people can understand your racist tirade.
If the police can’t prevent crime. And in fairness they can’t be everywhere, then they have no place arresting someone defending their own property.
The robber, who later shot Mr Bodden, is the one who should be looking at significant prison time.
A disgrace. Criminal wounding this serious should always merit jail.
Only in these crazy times of INJUSTICE ARE PEOPLE take to Court for defence of their property.
Congrats bro, these thugs need to learn a lesson! BRACKA.
Well done, Justice Carter. Mr. Dexter doesn’t deserve to serve any time, particularly in light of all the ills that have been laid at his door. I don’t believe that he should have to pay a single cent for the medical bills, however the judgement could have been far worse.
Happy to click on the happy icon above.
I’m sorry you had to suffer this abuse Dexter. Time was you wouldn’t even go to court for protecting your own. Times have changed, Sir, and I guess dinosaurs like you and me will have to change with them, but I will never allow anyone to steal from me either, if I have any awareness of it. Be safe and keep singing.
Looks like a lot of Cayman cowboys commenting on this article.
You should understand that some people are not as spineless as thieves and you think us to be. Best judgment under the circumstances and I would have done the same as you Dexter. More power to you Dexter, and people who stand up to this rubbish in our society!
”She ordered Bodden to attend an anger management programme and set out a payment plan for him to pay half of the medical fees that the intruder had incurred as a result of the injuries he sustained.” Our system is a complete joke. The intruder should be grateful all he got was a machete.
He was ordered anger management too in Memphis and then deported back to Cayman
If this was an expat then it would be straight off to HMP Northward. This is a sad commentary of the level of inequality within the Cayman Judiciary.
Most of the judiciary is expat so not sure where your problem is? Expats hating expats?
You are an absolute fool to write a comment like that!
Plot twist- the intruder he woke to find in his property (without consent) could be an expat too..? Would you still claim inequality then ?
If he was a pale skinned accountant who borrowed a few dollars from a multi billion dollar business he’d do a few years at least.
2:01pm why should he have gone off straight to Northward? Someone was going to steal his things that he paid for and belonged to him!! I don’t see how or why he even has to pay this man’s medical bills!!! This guy was taking something that didn’t belong to him, so what is the justice system saying…its ok for someone now to come into your home or vehicle and steal whatever they want to?? I don’t think so BOBO!!
should have given him a medal
Yes, the National Treasure Medal.
2.01pm Better still, make him a National Hero with his statue in Hero’s Sq, machete aloft in his right hand.
If the suspect has been on police bail since 2016, suspect its impossible to charge him now. And if that is the case, how can he still be on bail? Is that just RCIPS pretending they are still investigating the case?
Could Roper please explain? He is responsible for the police.
The shooting was in 2018
In Cayman these days the criminals got all the rights, every new law is for easing up the criminals, an against the law abiding citizens. Its crying shame when someone is defending his property an his living , is the one that is charged an the criminal goes free. Shame on Cayman justic
Thank you!