Tourist attacker gets one year
OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Twenty-seven year-old Robert Taylor, who attacked a group of Canadian visitors and their nanny last Sunday, has been found guilty of one count of unlawful wounding and sentenced to a year in jail.
The sentence was handed down in the Ocho Rios Resident Magistrate’s Court at 11:05 pm Thursday by RM Sara James-Thompson. The trial was fast-tracked as the visitors were to leave the island Friday.
Taylor was only convicted of wounding 35 year-old corporate banker, James Gardiner, as the two other charges — the unlawful wounding of James’ brother Harry, and the assault of Vanessa James, a nanny employed to the Franklyn D Resort in Runaway Bay — were deferred to April 25.
Investigating officer, Corporal Cordel Jackson, told the court that information on the other two cases was not yet ready. Defence attorney Robert Brown objected strongly to this information Thursday night, arguing that the three charges stemmed from the same incident and all related information should, therefore, be made available at one time.
Despite his protest, the RM said she could not force the officer to present the information and ordered the beginning of the trial.
The court was told that at about 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 9, Taylor assaulted the nanny and wounded James and Harry Gardiner at the Cardiff Hall Beach in Runaway Bay.
James Gardiner, who was the first to testify, told the court that he was in the water at the private beach with members of his family and two nannies when he noticed Taylor aggressively talking to the other members of his group who were on the beach.
Upon inquiry about the nature of the discussion, he told the court, Taylor said the group either had to pay to use the beach or would have to leave. Gardiner said he objected to both demands and Taylor repeated them. Gardiner said he was then distracted by the approach of two elderly men.
According to Gardiner, during his discussion with the men, he heard a noise behind him, turned and saw Taylor punch the nanny in the face, causing her to fall. He told the court that Taylor continued to punch the young woman while she was still on the ground, until other group members intervened.
Gardiner testified that Taylor was briefly restrained but once released, attempted to attack the female members of the group until he was tackled and pinned to the ground.
When he was again released, Gardiner said, Taylor went in search of a stick which he used to attack Gardiner and his brother Harry, even as the group left the premises.
A report was later made to the Runaway Bay police and Taylor was arrested, charged and taken before the court.
Taylor’s lawyer told the court that it was his client who was attacked, but the RM was not convinced by his version of the events.