PHILIPSBURG--Diandro Raphael Ferdinand (22) was sentenced by the Court on Thursday to fifteen days and 200 hours of community service, 100 of which were suspended, on three years’ probation, with Parole Board supervision and aggression replacement training (ART) for hitting a man who was walking his dog and breaking his jaws.
This case of severe mistreatment took place on February 24, 2020, and originated in an argument which started when Ferdinand started troubling the victim’s dog. During an argument that followed the defendant became aggressive and punched the victim, breaking both jaw bones.
The victim, who contrary to the suspect was present during Thursday morning’s Court hearing, required extensive medical and dental treatment and is still not fully recovered.
He spent seven days in hospital in the Dominican Republic and told the Court that his dentist had not yet made an estimate of the cost of dental care. Therefore, it was impossible for him to file for damages based on medical expenses and loss of income in the criminal case, but this issue may still be addressed in a civil court.
Ferdinand had told the police that he had acted in self-defence, because he was harassed by the man who was walking his dog. “He was looking for problems and challenged me,” he told the detectives.
The prosecutor considered mistreatment which resulted in severe bodily harm proven, for which she demanded a prison sentence equal to the time spent in pre-trial detention, with community service and Parole Board guidance.
Attorney-at-law Geert Hatzmann agreed with the prosecutor’s legal analysis of his client’s case. He said that Ferdinand, whom he described as a “nice guy with a short fuse” had involuntarily caused a lot of damage.
