Burglary victim finding it hard to get over 2018 break-in

A woman whose house was broken into by notorious burglar Andre Shamar Freeman more than three years ago, told the High Court on Wednesday that she had to seek the help of a therapist to try to get over the traumatic incident.

And while Sabeeha Kazi told Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell that intervention had helped somewhat, she said she and her parents were still trying to come to grips with what had occurred.

Freeman, who has over three dozen convictions for burglary, was back in the No. 4 Supreme Court to hear Kazi’s victim impact statement.

The 34-year-old Freeman, of Crusher Site Road, Prospect, St James, pleaded guilty to entering Kazi’s home as a trespasser on July 28, 2018, and stealing a laptop, two pairs of sunglasses, four pairs of earrings, five rings, a bracelet and $50 cash. The items had a total value of $14,380.

Kazi told the court she had not gotten over the harrowing incident.

“Immediately after the event, I moved back home. I was living alone at the time. I could not live alone since then and I still have moments where I am paranoid. I have had panic attacks since the matter where I continuously lock a door and then wouldn’t remember if it was locked or not and then I would have a panic attack and would have to rush home. Those kinds of things still occur to this day,” she informed the court.

“It is only this year that I have moved out and can live on my own, and I still don’t feel comfortable because someone was in my space. My parents are still paranoid when I’m living alone as well because of what happened, so it is scary for my entire family, for me, just being alone in this situation all over again. There is a fear that it could happen again. It is something that I face every single day.”

Kazi said she attended therapy for a year and a half and only stopped when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the island last year.

After hearing about her experience, Freeman apologized profusely to the victim and to the court for his actions.

He conceded that his act had “tormented” Kazi.

Freeman begged the court to allow him to compensate the victim for some of the stolen items that were never recovered.

“I can’t even say sorry because I torment this young lady’s home. I went into her private space…. I really and truly would like to say to Ms Kazi that I humbly apologize and I gine accept my punishment and I am willing to compensate her for her jewellery which I took, and if it is that Ms Kazi would accept my compensation, I willing to pay even if I have to pay $500 or $1,000 a month. With help from my family I am willing to compensate her for her jewellery,” he said.

When asked by Justice Smith-Bovell if she would be open to accepting compensation from Freeman, Kazi said while it was admirable some things could not be replaced.

“The difficulty is that I can understand that he would want to compensate me for it but there were things that were heirlooms – my wedding rings were taken and there are things that I can never get back.

“At the end of the day, compensation is great and while I can appreciate that that’s fine, how do you then assess what you compensate for my peace? Even the things that were one-of-a-kind jewellery I’m never going to get them back…,” Kazi said.

Justice Smith-Bovell indicated to the burglary victim that any compensation offered by Freeman would not be forthcoming as he would be in prison for “a little while”.

She then adjourned the matter until January 28, 2022, when Freeman will be sentenced.

Crown Counsel Kevin Forde prosecuted the case.