Julian Benjamin of Parsons Village appeared before the Basseterre High Court of Justice last week on a charge of grievous bodily harm and in the alternative, wounding with intent. The offence was committed against Xavier Gumbs on 1st January, 2010.
And the prosecution alleged that on that day, he wounded Gumbs and while the defence did not deny the claim, it forwarded that Benjamin’s actions were as a result of self-defence.
After approximately five days of trial, the jury – which was divided 11-1 – returned a verdict of not guilty on both counts.
Following the case, MiyVue.com spoke with Benjamin who indicated that he is relieved and happy to be exonerated.
“I was quite scared because this is the first time I’ve been in trouble and this is the first time that I have been to High Court…”
His lawyer, Chesley Hamilton, informed this media house that since his pre-teenage years, Benjamin has represented St. Kitts in cricket and has a bright future ahead of his. He advised his client and other to steer clear of trouble.
“Julian is a young man from Parson’s. A cricketer, 22 years of age, and he has been representing the island team since he was 11 years of age, and he has represented the senior team since he has been around 14 years of age. I think he has a bright future before him and I just want him to stay out of any trouble or altercation concerning violence because violence sometimes comes to look for you rather than you going to look for it; as in this case, it came to look for him…”
In 2010, while Benjamin’s case was pending, he sought permission from the Magistrate’s Court to travel to Antigua to, again, represent St. Kitts in cricket. Permission was granted and with the complete disposal of the case, Benjamin says he is now poised to continue providing representation or St. Kitts and to work towards goals which he set prior to the incident which landed him before a judge.
“…Now I feel a little better and I can go on and play my cricket now, practice often. I had a goal which was to be the first person in St. Kitts to be on the West Indies Cricket team. I also want people to look up to me as a role model and being somebody in St. Kitts. I want to be somebody in my community who goes out and helps my community.”
Benjamin, in expressing simple words of caution to those would seem prone to gravitate to negative and criminal activity, indicated, “It’s not good.”