AG -v- Cummins 5-May-2006 [2006] JRC 070 (05 May 2006)

JUDGMENT THE DEPUTY BAILIFF: 1. This was a serious attack. You thrust a glass into the victim's face, causing the glass to shatter. You did this without any warning, and it caused a number of cuts, some of which will no doubt leave scars and you were really very fortunate that the injuries caused to the victim were not more serious.

2. This Court has repeatedly said and we repeat again today that those who commit violence in public places in St Helier particularly if they use weapons will face substantial sentences. There is too much violence in Jersey, often fuelled by drink and the Court is determined to try and send a message that such matters will not be accepted.

3. So despite the mitigation put forward by Advocate Haines such as your guilty plea, your youth, your remorse and the other matters he referred to, the Crown's conclusions are entirely correct, subject to one matter that we are going to come to.

4. The Crown has agreed that you should be sentenced on the version of facts put forward by the defence, and that is the victim in this case had repeatedly taunted you over a particularly sensitive matter and that he had done so again a few minutes before the incident. We do not propose to describe the nature of that taunting, but we agree with Mr Haines' description of it as being a 'high degree of provocation' and it had been cumulative. For that reason alone we are willing to reduce the sentence in this case, because we understand that it would have been very provoking behaviour. Nevertheless, a prison sentence is inevitable. The sentence of the Court is 2 years' imprisonment. No Authorities Page Last Updated: 10 Jun 2015 BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII