Landlord to pay $30 000 compensation

Landlord Nigel Randolph Walcott, who inflicted “serious injuries to a fellow human being”, was ordered to pay $30 000 compensation when he reappeared in the No. 3A Supreme Court yesterday.

“It is God’s grace that those injuries combined did not prove to be fatal,” said Justice Anthony Blackman.

“I believe you are capable of putting this behind you, bearing in mind you not only have a duty to yourself, but to your mother and sister.

“When you control your thoughts, you control your mind. When you control your mind, you control your life. And once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life, you become the master of your destiny,” the judge told him.

Walcott, of Monroe Village, Dash Valley, St George, was back in court yesterday, after he was found guilty of entering the house of Anthony Seale, his tenant, between May 9 and 10, 2021, and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Seale while having a weapon of offence – a sword.

He was represented by attorneys Kyle Walkes and Tristan Elcock, while Principal State Counsel Romario Straker, State Counsel Treann Knight and State Counsel Eleazar Williams prosecuted the matter.

“According to the evidence, the complainant needs a care-giver. He can’t bathe himself or wipe himself when he uses the bathroom.

“You exhibited sheer brutality the night of the incident,” the judge told Walcott.

“The employment opportunities of the complainant are severely reduced and restricted. His mobility had been compromised,” he said.

“The matter, relating to a landlord and tenant, attracted the attention of the court and sometimes we have to allow justice to run its full course,” the judge noted.

Justice Blackman said he had considered the seriousness of the offence; the magnitude and “sheer brutality” of the injuries inflicted by Walcott on Seale; that Seale underwent three concurrent operations performed by three surgeons and that a number of vital nerves and tendons had been cut; that there was evidence of premeditation and that Walcott visited the residence “fully prepared” and armed with a weapon.

He said the main mitigating feature in the offence was that Walcott had gone to the police station after the incident.

As a result, the judge said he had considered that 12 years was the appropriate starting point.

Justice Blackman then told Walcott he had considered his previously clean record, his favourable pre-sentencing report and the testimony of his character witnesses.

He then deducted two years for the mitigating features and the 27 days Walcott had spent on remand.

“I’ve considered the evidence of the case and concluded a custodial sentence is not warranted and I will impose a fine which, in the court’s opinion, will provide justice for all,” the judge said.

He then fined Walcott $10 000 in six months or 3 623 days in jail.

He also ordered Walcott to pay $30 000 in compensation, $10 000 of which was due immediately.

The remaining $20 000 must be paid in seven months or Walcott faces 3 623 days in jail.

During the trial, the complainant said he saw a light approaching his front door in the early hours of the morning, before someone opened it, shone a light in his face and began chopping him.

That person turned out to be Walcott.

The complainant said he raised his left hand to shield himself and was chopped on that hand and in his head. More chops landed on him, he said.

They tussled and fought, eventually breaking down the front door.

Walcott’s sword dropped and Seale said he stood on it. Walcott retrieved it, gave him another chop to the head and left.

Walcott, in his defence, said he rented part of his house to Seale, who paid one month’s rent of $800 “and never paid another cent”. He said Seale tied “two massive pit bulls strategically” at the entrance to his (Walcott’s) property, and on another occasion chased him with a knife. He reported both incidents to the District “B” Police Station.

He said he had worked all night on a project on May 9, 2021 and, when his jigsaw blade broke around 1 a.m., he decided to go to his St George property for a replacement, as well as to inspect and close any open areas, as Seale was constantly going into his (Walcott’s) house and he kept missing things.

He said when he got there early that morning and was about to go upstairs, he saw Seale in a doorway, holding a knife.

He added Seale began swinging at him and he received cuts to his hands and a sharp one to his neck.

He feared for his life, drew his own knife and only stopped swinging when he realised Seale had become more subdued. (HLE)

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