Tobago man put on bond, compensates friend he chopped

A Tobago man has been put on a $10,000 bond to keep the peace for three years for chopping a friend who pelted him with a wine bottle after accusing him of not telling him about his wife’s infidelity.

Anroy Manswell, of Pembroke, appeared virtually before Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas on Thursday.

Manswell also kept his promise to compensate his friend.

The judge had adjourned Manswell's sentencing when he pleaded guilty in December to unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Roger Smart on May 13, 2012.

On pleading guilty, he offered to pay $5,000 in compensation, but the judge doubled the amount.

On Thursday, just hours before he reappeared virtually from the Legal Aid and Advisory office in Tobago, Manswell made the final payment of $8,000. In total he has paid the $10,000 and bank receipts were presented to the court by his attorney, public defender Delicia Helwig-Robertson.

The judge said he was not going to include the payment of compensation in his sentence, but noted the payment, and warned Manswell if he failed to abide by the bond conditions, he will have to serve two years’ hard labour.

St Clair-Douglas also told Manswell, “I would suggest you count your blessings and stay on the right side of the law.”

When the incident took place, Smart was outside a shop in the neighbourhood drinking wine when Manswell approached and asked him for a cigarette. He then went home, returned with a cutlass, and attacked Smart. Four of Smart’s fingers on his left hand were cut when he grabbed the blade. Manswell’s mother was called and she beat him into submission and helped Smart bandage his injured hand.

Manswell admitted to attacking Smart, but said Smart had accused him of not telling him “his wife was giving him horn.”

The men are now friends and Manswell apologised to the court for his actions.

“I let anger get the best of me and I should have handled it differently. To the court and victim, I humbly apologise,” Manswell said.