Father of 6 jailed for 13 years for attempting to kill gambling partner

…“God has given me a second chance” – victim tells court

Alfred Braithwaite, a 42-year-old father of six was slapped with a 13-year jail sentence on an attempted murder charge. Following a trial before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall which concluded last month, he was found guilty of the offence by a 12-member mixed jury.

On January 27, 2017, in the county of Demerara, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Chefton Haymer, a 44-year-old father of four with the intent to murder him.
Braithwaite and Haymer, who were known to each other for several years, were gambling on the day in question when the latter expressed displeasure with the cards given to him. As a result, the men ended up in a disagreement, and Haymer demanded that Braithwaite give him back his money.
Braithwaite, however, left the scene, returning in the company of another man, who was armed with a cutlass. While Braithwaite sat on Haymer, restraining him, his accomplice dealt him several chops. “Kill he! Kill he!” Braithwaite had shouted to his accomplice.

Second chance
During a sentencing hearing on Friday, Haymer told the court that the injuries he sustained have rendered him permanently disabled. Given his inability to work, he said he has been unable to afford physiotherapy which would help treat his injuries. He related that he survives on “handouts” that he receives from relatives and friends. Before the incident, he was a construction worker.
Haymer shared, “I have been in and out of the hospital. I have suffered severe and irreparable nerve damage. I see blurry, the nerve in my left leg was completely cut. I have suffered from numbness and sharp pain…”
He divulged that on many days he experiences excruciating pain which forces him to consume alcohol to numb himself. The victim said that shortly after the incident, his partner of 14 years broke up with him. In closing, Haymer asserted that the men had set out to kill him but “God has given me a second chance”.

I’m not the person
But despite the jury’s guilty verdict, Braithwaite in his address to the court, insisted that he did not inflict injuries on the man. The crying man said, “I’m not the person who inflicted the wounds. Chefton Haymer, you know that I is not the person who do you that. But I am sorry for the injuries that you received… I am begging for mercy…give me a chance.”
He went on to say that he is “so hurt” and indicated that his family is willing to compensate the victim. Braithwaite’s lawyer, Teriq Mohammed, implored the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that his client can be rehabilitated for reintegration into society.

Over a few dollars
For her part, Justice Morris-Ramlall described the attack on Haymer as “senseless and premeditated” which stemmed from a game of gambling over a “few dollars”.
Although Haymer did not lose a limb, the Judge said he has lost his earning capacity and is permanently disabled. According to her, since Braithwaite refuses to accept responsibility for his actions, his expression of remorse is not genuine.
Having considered his prior unblemished criminal record and his reasonable prospects for rehabilitation, the Judge imprisoned Braithwaite for 13 years, less the one month he spent on remand pending sentencing after being convicted.
The court ordered that he be exposed to anger management training classes while incarcerated.
Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave, State Counsel Cecilia Corbin, and State Counsel Caressa Henry had appeared for the prosecution during the trial.