‘If it wasn’t for the grace of God’
Woman who stabbed co-worker multiple times receives suspended sentence
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A woman, accused of stabbing her co-worker multiple times and damaging his cellphone when he refused to let her accompany him as he made deliveries, received a suspended sentence when she appeared in the St James Parish Court on Monday.
Sashalee Anglin was charged with unlawful wounding and malicious destruction of property.
It is alleged that on February 11 the complainant, a driver at a business establishment, was preparing to make a steel delivery and expressed his preference not to have a female assistant accompany him on the trip. As a result, Anglin became boisterous and approached him with a knife, inflicting stab wounds on him and damaging his cellphone.
On Monday, when presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce asked Anglin if she had anything to say, the woman apologised and requested leniency, citing the fact that she has a young child in school.
“You are 34 years old. Things that happened in your teenage years cannot be excused now that you are 34… Stabbing a person multiple times, you could have killed him,” the judge scolded.
“You would have been in a different court if it wasn’t for the grace of God. You are looking for up to three years in prison. By the time you get out, the child will have started high school,” Grant-Pryce added.
However, the judge noted factors in Anglin’s favour such as her early guilty plea and a social enquiry report which revealed that some members of her community believe she is a quiet person who does not disturb others.
Justice Grant-Pryce also referenced feedback from Anglin’s supervisor, who commented on her strong work ethic but expressed concern about her behaviour.
“We can’t have that kind of behaviour… I am forced to take into consideration other factors, such as the fact that you have some things that you need to sort out mentally,” the judge said.
At that point, Anglin acknowledged the necessity for counselling, and the judge recommended that she pursue it.
Judge Grant-Pryce then asked the complainant what course of action he wanted to take, to which he replied that he wanted $40,000 in compensation.
The judge sentenced Anglin to six months in prison on the wounding charge, suspended for two years, and ordered her to pay the complainant $40,000 in compensation.
In respect of the property damage charge, no evidence was offered.
Anglin will remain in custody until the money is paid.
