‘I am very sorry’

An apology to his sister was not enough to save 20-year-old Atsu Kehinde Tese Jones, of Kendall Hill, Christ Church, from spending 12 months behind bars.

What’s more, Jones, who admitted before Oistins Magistrate Elwood Watts to assaulting his sister Shani Beckles on March 17, occasioning her actual bodily harm, could be faced with an additional 12-month prison term.

Today’s guilty plea not only triggered the suspended sentence handed down to him in the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court in September last year, but it also opened the door to another 12-month sentence after Jones could not say for certain whether or not he had settled a $2,500 compensation order by last December.

The matter is being investigated.

In the meantime, a sentence is also pending for the assault against his sister.

Jones, who shares a home with his mother, brother and three sisters, reportedly got into an argument with his mother over the use of an ironing board on March 17 before Beckles stepped in and informed him that he needed to calm himself down as the property belonged to their mother.

However, according to Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett, her comments apparently angered Jones who started to break items in the house.

A short time later while his sister and mother were cleaning up his mess, Jones came and chucked Beckles on the shoulder and then proceeded to beat her about the head and chest. She was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment after she managed to escape and sought refuge at neighbour’s house.

Jones, who subsequently turned himself in to police, apologized to his sister who was also present in court today.

“I am very sorry for what I do . . . but I am going through a lot . . . and I don’t express myself properly. I am very sorry I [gave] you a hard hit. Accept my apology,” Jones said.

However, it fell on deaf ears.

“He said it already. This is not the first time, over and over we gave him chances. I don’t see why I have to suffer his attack and get the [brunt] of his anger. I don’t feel he is sincere,” Beckles said in response, adding that she already bore Jones’ scars as a result of a previous dispute.

Magistrate Watts adjourned the case until April 23 after informing Jones that his suspended sentence would kick in from today.