PHILIPSBURG--A 24-year-old man was sentenced to three years on Wednesday for attacking another man with a machete at a bus stop in Dutch Quarter on May 5.
The Prosecutor's Office had requested four years for Ramon Gumbs, whereas his lawyer Safira Ibrahim attempted to convince the Judge of the fact that her client had acted in self-defence.
The victim sustained severe injuries to his head and left arm in the vicious attack, which left him scarred. The incident followed a previous altercation on October 21, 2014, during which he was threatened.
On May 5, Gumbs attacked him with a machete. He had warded off the attack with the machete with his arm, as a result of which he can no longer use his arm for 100 per cent, the victim told the police.
Gumbs, however, claimed he was not the aggressor in the incident. By contrast, it was him who was attacked out of the blue, he stated.
Gumbs told the Judge on Wednesday that he had punched his assailant in the face to defend himself and said he had picked the machete up after it had fallen to the ground. He said he fell in a trench during the fight, and got injured to his right foot.
Gumbs was convicted of crimes before. In December 2012, he was sentenced to 30 months, 12 of which were suspended, for attempted extortion and theft. On January 14, 2015, he received nine months, six of which were suspended, and 120 hours of community service, for threatening and attempted theft.
Prosecutor Nanouk Lemmers said there were no indications that Gumbs had acted in self-defence. "He said he did not want to kill but hit the victim on his head, taking the risk of inflicting severe injuries."
Attorney Ibrahim said her client did not deny the injuries or the fact that he had held the machete in his hand, but added that her client had acted out of emotion and in self-defence.
The Judge found attempted manslaughter proven. This was based on the medical reports which stated that the victim's arm was broken in three locations, which was an indication of the force of the attack.
The self-defence pleadings were dismissed because the defendant's statements were found incorrect and did not match with the victim's injuries.
