Six years ago Deshawn Shaquille Harper told police he was the one who “cuffed” another man in his face and “brek he nose bridge”.
Today, before Justice Randal Worrell the 1st Avenue Fairfield, St Michael resident pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting serious bodily harm on Derrick Reid on February 27, 2016.
He had also been facing the charge of causing serious bodily harm to Reid with intent to main, disfigure or disable him or to do some serious bodily harm to him. Harper pleaded not guilty to that offence.
Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis accepted the guilty plea on behalf of the state and revealed that the incident took place at a bus stop near Oistins Bay Garden.
Reid, she said, was near the steps of the stage in the area among other people when he noticed Harper, whom he knew, looking in his direction in an aggressive manner. He ignored him.
Just after midnight he made his way to the bus stop and soon after saw Harper again standing not too far from him along with other males. They approached him and Harper punched him in the left eye and the others began to beat on him causing a beer bottle that he was holding to drop and break.
According to the facts Reid picked up a piece of the bottle and started slashing and was able to escape through an opening between the men and made his escape. It was only afterwards that he realised that he was missing some of his jewelry.
Reid reported the matter to the police and he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. While there he saw Harper again who he said told him “This ain’t done here.” He pointed out his attacker to the police.
Reid was treated for a fractured nose and soft tissue injury to the face and left eye. The doctor’s report said the degree of force used was moderate to severe.
Harper was detained. He declined his right to an attorney and was questioned after not giving a written statement.
He was told of the report made and he replied, “That is me. I is who cuff he. I ain’t got to tell no lies. I is who brek his nose bridge and kick he in he chest.”
Answering more questions posed to him by lawmen, Harper said, he knew ‘Rasta’ [Reid] for many years.
“Me and Rasta always in some dispute or the other and I always call he a p***y. Nobody ain’t beat he but me. I is who give he lefts and rights and I is who kick he down, because he cuff me in my face. . . . This happen right by the bus stop in Oistins.”
He also told police that no other men “gathered round Rasta. “It did me that cuff he and kick he bout.”
The case against Harper will continue before the No. 2 Supreme Court on April 29. The first-time offender has waived his right to have a pre-sentencing report done.
