GREAT BAY – The court case of a 29-year old man who is under treatment from the Mental Health Foundation for schizophrenia came to an endearing end when the defendant shook hands with the victim of a laptop-theft, saying, “I am sorry.” The victim’s answer showed that not all disputes have to end badly: “No problem,” he told the man as they left the courtroom together.
The defendant stole a laptop belonging to the victim more than two years ago – on January 29, 2013. There was some pushing whereby the laptop fell to the ground and as a result, it became irreparably damaged.
Judge Maria Paulides established that the defendant smokes four to five joints per day at a cost of – according to the defendant – $40 a day. “And you don’t want to stop this,” the judge noted.
“No,” the defendant said. “There are so many problems in the world – there is so much stress.”
The defendant works three days per week three hours in the port to make a little income. He committed the laptop theft because he was short of money.
Prosecutor Nanouk Lemmers considered the charges proven and demanded a 12-month conditional prison sentence with 3 years of probation. On top, she demanded that the defendant be placed under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Bureau, that he continues his treatment with the Mental Health Foundation (where he receives medication for his medical condition) and that he undergoes treatment at Turning Point for his marijuana addiction. Furthermore, the prosecutor demanded that the defendant pay $1,500 in damages to the owner of the laptop.
Judge Maria Paulides followed the prosecutor’s demand, noting that the defendant will have to complete paying the damages within one year.
Source TODAY NEWSPAPER
