Court shows mercy to first time violent offender
(CNS): Jose Yamany Carter-Ramirez (25), who stabbed another man in the chest outside a George Town bar in December last year, was sentenced to just 15 months in jail after the court partially suspended a 23-month sentence. Carter-Ramirez, from West Bay, stabbed the victim after his girlfriend accused the man of an assault while they were in the bar. This was his first conviction for a violent offence, which was said to be out of character.
According to prosecutors, Carter-Ramirez stabbed his victim, whom he had known from childhood, in a drunken, impulsive attack based on the allegation his girlfriend had made. However, the victim said he was not the person who had slapped the woman’s behind while she was inside the Power Supply bar.
When the victim went outside the bar to smoke, he was stabbed by Carter-Ramirez. Although he managed to run away, he was badly wounded and soon collapsed on the side of the road. He was unconscious when he was picked up by a passer-by, who drove him to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town, where he was quickly transferred to Health City in East End for emergency surgery.
The local man was in the hospital for over a week and underwent one more surgery for his chest injury. Although he has recovered, he is scarred physically and emotionally and continues to have breathing problems, which prevents him from scuba diving anymore, he told social workers in a victim impact report. He also reported having to take more than three weeks off work and using what savings he had to pay for his medication.
Carter-Ramirez handed himself in to the police in January after he learned that they were looking for him. After he was charged and following discussions with the crown about the attack, he pleaded guilty to wounding, a lesser count than the original charge of wounding with intent.
Justice Cheryll Richard started her sentencing at four years based on the seriousness of the offence. Taking into account the mitigating factors, including his genuine remorse, the fact that it was an isolated incident and a single blow, as well as the one-third discount for his guilty plea, she reduced that sentence by more than half to 23 months.
In addition, since he is the main breadwinner for his family, which includes his mother, his partner and three small children, and because has no history of violence, she suspended part of the sentence for two years. With time served, Carter-Ramirez only has a few more months in jail.
Until he was remanded for this crime, he had always been in full-time employment and a productive member of the community. According to the submissions made to the court, he has made the most of his time on remand, taking various academic and rehabilitation courses.
After handing down the sentence, Justice Richards ordered that Carter-Ramirez take an anger management course and warned him not to come back before the courts ever again.
- Fascinated
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This is reminiscent to the Olga Smith trial case, a couple of years back, for stabbing her boyfriend/expected baby daddy to death and gets 7 yrs, because they allowed her to plead guilty to manslaughter. I can’t believe that crimes of violence that takes a person’s life or injures them permanently rendering them incapable of maintaining their employment. Judiciary system here in Cayman needs to be revamped asap!!
There are no Caymanian judges.
Lucky the sentence is under 12 months. That way it is not enough for immigration to revoke status you seeā¦
What happened to our standards?
Also doesn’t stop him for running for parliament, whereas his immigration status does. Says a lot about our electoral system.
This judge has been assisting criminals with lite sentences for decades
This judge has produced two light sentences in short order. Better lock your doors and stay away from any clubs because its dangerous out there snd the police and judges are not going to protect you.
Good point, and not just late night places. Be aware of your surroundings day and night.
Si the sentence is based on this being completely out of character and a one off. So why is he carrying a knife to a bar in the first place?
He may have been thinking of ordering a bar snack, like a burger. He may have been anticipating that cutlery may not be immediately available, so simply brought his own knife. Perfectly reasonable, your honor! š
Crime against property:
eleven-months prison term for setting a Jeep on fire
Crime against a person:
stubbing the victim…who collapsed and was unconscious…was in the hospital for over a week and underwent one more surgery for his chest injury…ā”ļø mercy to the perpetrator
an isolated incident? It only take ONE isolated incident to kill a person
WHAT A SHAME.
Vote out judges who are releasing violent criminals allowing them to rob, assault and murder again.
Judges aren’t voted into office here, so you can’t “vote out judges”.
Turned himself in after he learned the police was looking for him? Meaning he would not if the police didnāt have a suspect! Our Court system and laws is a joke! Throw the book at all violent offenders! And over what? A slap on the rear end ? Settle it like a man not a wanna be thug! These young punks are all cowards, without weapons would get slap the f##k down back in the day!!
Violent and mercy don’t go together.
Judges who are soft on crime must be removed.
15 months for stabbing someone and leaving him for dead on the side of the road? This is another one of those light sentences by the judge that show the courts are not very serious about crime.
He runs a knife through another human and gets a slap on the wrist.
Caymankind for sure.
Are the perpetrator and judge Caymanian?
slap on the wrist ensures repeat offender
And NEW offenders