Chopper man jailed for 13 years

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

MICHAEL THOMAS, a 45-year-old man of Rose Place, used a cutlass to viciously chop his common-law-wife Esther Crooke, and her close friend Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Harry one year and six months ago.

At the High Court Criminal Assizes on Monday, Thomas, who also resides at Victoria Village/Stubbs, was sentenced to 13 years, one month, and four days in prison for wounding Harry with intent; and four years, one month, and four days for the lesser charge of unlawfully wounding Crooke.

The sentences, handed down by Justice Brian Cottle, will run concurrently.

Thomas, unrepresented, had pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared before the High Court for arraignment on May 2, 2023 but sentencing was adjourned.

The facts showed that up to the time of the incident, Crooke, a resident of Rose Bank, North Leeward, and Thomas were in an intimate relationship for about nine months. They would spend time together at their respective homes.

However, there were regular instances of domestic conflicts and Thomas had threatened to kill Crooke during prior altercations, but she never made a report to the police.

On December 3, 2021, there was a domestic dispute between Thomas and Crooke and deciding to end the relationship, she asked Thomas to leave her house. He refused, so she packed his belongings and placed them on the porch. Thomas never left the premises; he slept in the porch for two nights.

At about 12:30pm on December 5, 2021, as Crooke was about to close her door to leave home for a funeral, Thomas used his foot to prevent the door from closing, and he said to her, “You can’t pass, me haffa run yo blood today, and if you touch me you go make matters worst”.

Crooke retreated and exited through a back door. She asked her brother Fernando Crooke to lock the door for her.

On returning home around 7pm, she met Thomas on the porch. She went inside the house, changed her clothes, and went on the block to lime. Several persons were on the block, including Harry.

Thomas arrived on the block and began telling those present that Crooke had cut him on his finger. He also accused Crooke of having an intimate relationship with Harry. Incensed, he tried to strike Crooke but bystanders intervened and prevented him from doing so. He then left, headed in the direction of Cooke’s house only to return with his bag on his back. He is said to have said that he was leaving for Troumaca.

During this time, Crooke asked Harry to take her bag to her home and to collect some food from her brother. She watched Harry enter her yard and waited for him to return. However, while Harry was at Crooke’s home, Thomas, wearing a mask, confronted him. Harry recognized him by his build, voice, and other physical features.

Thomas questioned Harry about his presence there and asked him whether he was the ‘sweet man’ who calls Crooke’s phone. Harry denied the assertion.

At this point, Thomas brandished a cutlass and used it to chop Harry on both hands. Harry ran out of the yard, but Thomas chased after him, caught up with him and chopped him twice on his back and shoulder. Harry ran towards his aunt’s residence.

Thomas then approached Crooke whose back was turned to him and chopped her twice in her back. She ran into the crowd for assistance and a police officer who was present spoke to Crooke and called the police. The matter was reported, and Thomas was subsequently arrested. that it was an unprovoked attack and that Harry was running away while Thomas inflicted some of these chops.

Michael Thomas had a history of wounding with the use of a cutlass and this time around, he met with the full extent of the sentencing in accordance with the sentencing guidelines.

In an electronic interview, Thomas admitted to chopping Harry but said he did it after he was attacked. He also said that Crooke threw a stone at him. A medical report revealed that Thomas sustained a 1 cm. laceration to his finger. No other wounds were recorded in relation to him.

Crooke sustained multiple large lacerations while Harry sustained multiple lacerations to both sides of his wrists.

The sentence

Justice Cottle pointed out that wounding with intent carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, which is equated to 30 years. He placed the offence at Category 2, and Level A and started at 18 years which is 60 percent of the maximum penalty, within a range of 45 to 75 percent.