Two locals in Hamilton, Jermaine Usher, 20, and Almir Waldron, 18, who physically knocked Canadian tourist, Ryan Emms, 31, off his moped on July 7, 2011, and stole his possessions were sentenced by the Hamilton Parish magistrate's court on Tuesday (March 27).
Usher received three months in jail, while Waldron was given two years' probation and a suspended sentence of corrective training.
COMMENT: Considering that Emms sustained deep wounds to his left leg and ankle, not to mention lost time for rehabilitation and additional time spent in Bermuda for treatment, three months in jail for Usher and probation for Waldron seems to be inequitable.
It should also be noted that nearly a year after the attack, Emms still does not have full use of his leg.
The two Bermudians targeted Emms as he rode back from Tobacco Bay along North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish. They rode up alongside him and knocked him off his bike into the coral wall as they grabbed for his bag. The two men escaped with Emms' knapsack containing $120 cash, his snorkeling gear and his camera.
News accounts made no reference to the fact as to whether Emms received his property and money back or whether he was compensated by the Government of Bermuda for his treatment and additional time on the island, including returning to Bermuda in January 2012 to testify at Usher's trial.
Fortunately, the Government of Bermuda does have a crime victim compensation program. We can only hope that Mr. Emms was compensated for his travel, expenses and medical treatment.
