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Man sentenced to six months in jail plus fines for stabbing incident

A man who stabbed another man on the neck with broken glass was sentenced to six months in jail. Pati Solomona with initially charged with first degree assault, but in a plea agreement with the government, the defendant pled guilty to second degree assault.

 

Sentencing for Solomona was handed down by Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond, who was accompanied on the bench by Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr.

 

During sentencing the defendant apologized to the court, the government and the victim. He asked the court for leniency as he’s been wanting to return home to carry out his fatherly duties to his family, especially for his children. He told the court he’s remorseful over what happened and that he will never again break the law.

 

Solomona told the court he will not repeat this behavior, nor consume alcohol anymore. Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley asked the court to place Solomona on probation.

 

Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldfield did not object to the recommendation for probation. Both parties agreed and recommended for the court to allow the defendant a chance to straighten out his life.

 

Richmond sentenced Solomona to five years in jail, of which execution of sentencing was suspended on the condition the defendant serve 20 months in jail. The court however ordered that Solomona be jailed for six months and the remaining time will be stayed.

 

The defendant has been in jail since November last year and he will be out next month.

 

In other conditions of his probation, Solomona was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 within six months and he was also ordered to pay the victim’s medical bills as the victim had been admitted for treatment.

 

The high court issued a stern warning to Solomona not to consume alcohol, nor enter bars or taverns, and he cannot congregate with those under the influence of alcohol.

 

Solomona will apologize to the victim in this case as part of his probation, and he must also renew his immigration ID.

 

According to the government’s case, the defendant was at a party when a verbal argument started. Solomona stabbed the victim in the neck with a broken beer glass.

 

Police officers questioned the defendant and he admitted he punched the victim, but denied stabbing him with an object, however witnesses at the scene told police otherwise, court documents state.

 

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. He suffered a five-inch laceration on his neck, which was four inches deep, right below his left ear; and was admitted to the Surgical Ward for observation.