Prince to pay for church damages

Convicted man Renison Isaiah Prince was sentenced to 875 days in prison, which had already been served and ordered to pay for the damage he caused to the historic St Mary’s Church, the City.

Prince, 27, of Fairfield, Black Rock, had pleaded guilty to the October 22, 2017 charge of damaging 19 windows and a plant pot at the church.

He has given a number of undertakings in writing including to pay for the just over $13 000 in damages done to the church as well to take his medication and stay away from intoxicating substances.

The convicted man, who is known to the court for similar offences – six for criminal damage and four for theft – is said to suffer from schizoaffective disorder, cocaine and alcohol abuse.

Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis told the court that a witness who knows Prince said he heard the sound of glass breaking coming from the direction of the church and subsequently saw Prince jumping over the southern wall, covered in blood. The caretaker came in the next morning intending to open the church but instead discovered broken windows and debris and stones on the ground.

Prince, who was discovered with lacerations on his left forearm, was later arrested.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Simon Clarke while Davis was the prosecutor in the case.