Hands off!

Justice Sherman Moore (FP)

By Maria Bradshaw | Wed, May 23, 2012 - 12:11 AM

PEOPLE who inflict physical violence on police officers, public officials and other people in authority during the execution of their duties can “generally” expect a custodial sentence from the court.

This warning was recently issued by the Court of Appeal while handing down a decision on an appeal by a 27-year-old man against the nine months’ prison sentence he received for biting a police officer.

Based on the merits of the case, the Justices of Appeal, who included Acting Chief Justice Peter Williams, Sherman Moore, and Andrew Burgess, quashed the nine-month sentence of imprisonment which was imposed on Damien Omar Cummins, for unlawfully and maliciously wounding Police Constable Kirvin Roach, but they sent out the stern warning to other would be offenders.

“We consider a non-custodial sentence appropriate in the special circumstances of the case based on the information disclosed to this Court on the offences and the offender.

Read the full story in today's MIDWEEK NATION.

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Posted by Pan Wallie 12 months ago: It would be a very sad thing if the biters happen to be those afflicted with HIV/AIDS and it would be interesting to see how they are sentenced. The issue to consider would be whether the biter was delirious or of sound mind at the time of the action.