Man who blinded sweetheart spared from prison
WESTERN BUREAU — Fenrick Reid, the married man who punched and blinded his sweetheart in her left eye, escaped incarceration for the offence yesterday when his six-month prison sentence was suspended for two years.
The decision to grant him reprieve was made by Montego Bay Resident Magistrate Valerie Stephens, who took a number of factors into consideration, including the fact that Reid made restitution in the sum of $25,000 to cover the complainant’s medical expenses.
There was also the social inquiry report that painted a picture of Reid as a respected law abiding member of his Rose Heights community and of an individual repentant for the pain he had caused not only the complainant Dasley Brissett, but also his wife and three children.
At the same time, the report showed the complainant to be a promiscuous woman and one who had numerous altercations with her other men, and it revealed that it was Reid who had saved her from these men on more than one occasion.
It was on this basis that RM Stephens concluded yesterday that there may have been an element of provocation that led the accused man to assault her on September 12.
The 42-year-old Reid had gone to Brissett’s house where he argued with her about her whereabouts the previous night. During the altercation, he used a machete to hit her in the back and punched her in the left eye. As a result, she was hospitalised for five days and lost the sight in the eye.
Meanwhile, the social inquiry report said Brissett still had a sexual relation with Reid, despite her eye injury. RM Stephens said it gave insight into the complainant’s character.
“It tells me she couldn’t have felt the harm (she claims). If somebody hit out your eye, you don’t jump back in bed with them. It tells you something of her (Brissett’s) character,” the RM told the court.
In addition to the findings of the report Reid’s attorney, Natalie Messado-Brown, asked the court to be mindful that it was several days after the incident that Brissett made a report to the police. She said that by the complainant’s own admission, she had opted to do so only to get compensation for the injury.
The testimony of Reid’s aunt, Vilma Malcolm, who described him as a “helpful” husband and a man who loved his children also contributed to his reprieve.
“You are getting a chance Mr Reid. Don’t let certain people bring you down,” the RM told the accused man, adding that he now had cause to contact the complainant or to be contacted by her.
Should Brissett desire additional money to take care of her medical expenses, the RM said she would have to go through the civil court.
“If she wants anything further she is going to have to sue you…” the RM told him.