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By
Jada Loutoo
A Feud between two families which erupted into a chopping
incident in 2003 has proved costly for a Cunupia man.
Four days into his trial, Adrian Soomai, 53, changed his plea
to guilty, yesterday, and was ordered to pay $16,000 in compensation
to Carlisle Ronalds and his son Elisha.
But the father and son are livid over the amount which they
believe is too paltry and intend to file civil action against
their attacker.
Carlisle and his son both say they would have preferred to
see their attacker go to jail.
“It
would seem he buy his way out,” Carlisle told reporters
after the case came to an end yesterday.
Kathy Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Joy Balkaran prosecuted.
Carlisle, a former supervisor with an industrial cleaning
company was chopped on the left thumb and his left palm. The
middle finger on his right hand was severed.
He suffered tendon damage in the right hand and cannot hold
a pen for more than a few seconds.
Elisha, who was training to become a fireman, received two
deep chop wounds on his right shoulder.
His promising career as a fast bowler was also dashed after
he had to drop out of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club because
of his shoulder injuries.
Soomai had been charged with two counts of wounding with intent
but after the testimony of the prosecution’s third witness,
Girlie Samad, Carlisle’s wife and Elisha’s mother,
he changed his plea to guilty.
He has been given six weeks to pay the $16,000 and was also
placed on a $25,000 bond by Justice Devan Rampersad, who said
no purpose would be served to send Soomai to jail.
The dispute between the two families, who both lived at rented
apartments at 27 Southern Main Road, Cunupia, came to a head
on October 5, 2003 when an argument erupted between Carlisle
and Soomai’s daughter.
Carlisle, whose family lived in the apartment below the Soomai’s,
had complained about the exhaust fumes from Soomai’s
car entering his house.
Soomai then started firing chops at Carlisle.
Half an hour later, Elisha was returning home and a friend
of Soomai’s began arguing.
Soomai then planassed the younger Ronalds with the same cutlass
he used to chop his father.
Carlisle, who went to his son’s rescue, was chopped a
second time on his right hand which resulted in the severing
of his middle finger and deep wounds to his palm.
Elisha, who ran to call the police, was cornered by Soomai’s
friend who pinned him down.
Soomai then fired two chops on Elisha’s right shoulder.
A report was made to the Cunupia Police Station and Cpl John
Barrow arrested and charged Soomai.
After he changed his plea, Soomai’s lawyer Ravi Heffes-Doon
said his client was very sorry for what had happened.
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