By Rominah Faka
The court will deliver the sentence of a 36-year-old man who unlawfully wounded his wife by cutting her hair extensions, resulting in head injuries, on March 11, 2025.
Yesterday, the prosecution and defense counsel made their sentencing and mitigating submissions in court after the accused pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful wounding.
The prosecution relied on its submissions, emphasizing several aggravating factors, including the breach of trust since the accused was the husband of the complainant, the complainant’s vulnerability, the use of a weapon (a pocket knife), the influence of alcohol, and the fact that the offense was committed at night.
The prosecution submitted that this case warrants a custodial sentence due to the use of a weapon by the accused.
On the other hand, the defense counsel highlighted the circumstances leading to the incident and the mitigating factors, including the accused’s guilty plea, his cooperation with the police, his status as a first-time offender, the 18 days he spent in custody, his remorse for his actions, and his immediate apology to the complainant when she came to the police station.
The agreed facts state that the accused, 36, and the complainant, 30, are husband and wife.
On the night of December 31, 2024, the couple went to Cowboys Grill Club to celebrate the New Year’s Eve countdown.
At around 2 a.m., the accused and the complainant got separated inside the club. The accused then searched for her both inside the club and outside in the parking lot but could not find her.
When he went outside again, he saw his wife standing beside a blue Caldina driven by her ex-boyfriend.
The accused approached the complainant and asked why she was standing there. She explained that she had asked her ex-boyfriend to drop her off at home, but he could not do so because someone else was inside the car.
The couple then returned to Cowboys Grill before heading home at around 3 a.m.
Upon arriving home, the accused questioned the complainant about her whereabouts for the past two hours. When she failed to provide a satisfactory response, he became angry, grabbed her dress as she attempted to escape, and then pulled her hair extensions. Using a pocket knife, he cut her hair, resulting in an injury to her head.
Upon seeing blood from the complainant’s head, the accused immediately let go of her. The victim fled to the White River Police Station, where she received assistance and was taken to the National Referral Hospital for urgent medical treatment. She was admitted immediately due to the severity of her head injuries.
The Public Prosecution Office represented the Crown, while the Public Solicitor’s Office represented the defense.
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