Man to spend three months behind bars on criminal damage, assault charges

Rafael Nico Elson’s only concern after he was jailed for three months was the well-being of his two rabbits.

“Ma’am, my rabbits gone dead, Ma’am, my rabbits gone dead,” cried the 32-year-old man of no fixed place of abode.

Elson had pleaded guilty before Magistrate Alison Burke to damaging without lawful excuse, two vehicles belonging to Lennie Moore, or was reckless as to whether such property would be damaged on June 20; and assaulting Moore on the same day, causing him actual bodily harm.

According to the facts outlined by Sergeant Verdon Forde, Moore exited his house on the mentioned date and saw
Elson armed with two rocks standing along Country Road,
St Michael.

As Moore proceeded with his business, Elson began throwing rocks at him, causing him to seek shelter in his house. Moore was injured. Elson, according to the prosecutor, continued his assault, unleashing a barrage of rocks, damaging the complainant’s vehicles, which were in the yard, in the process.

Sergeant Forde said Elson, who has three previous convictions, occupies an abandoned house along the mentioned road next to the complainant.

“The same house where I staying, I is the caretaker for the property there. I was in the streets for a while and the lady that own the property, she gave me permission that I can stay. She went through the court and has me down as the caretaker,” said Elson as he put forward his defence. 

When asked by the magistrate whether he had documentation to show that he was the caretaker of the house, the convicted man claimed the owner of the house had them.

He further explained that he was now getting himself to the point where he could support himself, and the incident with Moore was not unusual.

“Ma’am, that’s a little altercation that we accustom having all the time and . . . it get too far.  He was pelting too. All two of we was doing the same thing,” said Elson, who said he was not injured in the incident.

“It will never happen again. Ma’am, I have my rabbits and thing there; one pregnant. I can’t leave my house and thing,” he said before he was sentenced.

Barbados TODAY understands that measures have been taken to house the animals in a safe place until Elson’s sentence expires.