Dante Blair, 22, narrowly missed being sent straight to prison for an extended period when he appeared before the Magistrate’s Court today, February 21, 2014. Photo: VINO

Blair, unrepresented during his arraignment, pleaded guilty to charges of threatening language and indecent assault. The acts were reportedly committed against his ex-girlfriend on December 27, 2013.

According to the prosecution’s case as read by Crown Counsel Herbert Potter, the Virtual Complainant (VC) of Huntum’s Ghut reported to police that on the said date, her ex-boyfriend came to her home uninvited and forced himself on her.

Investigations revealed that the VC received a phone call from the defendant on the same date and while walking home from RiteWay, saw him coming out of a taxi. Blair walked up to the VC but she ignored him and continued walking and he followed her into her home.

She then asked what he was doing in the house and questioned whether he had gotten an invitation to be let in the home. He responded by saying no and she left him and went away.

The defendant requested some water and was given some. She later realised that he had followed her into a room and asked what he was doing in the room but he did not answer. He next followed her into her grandmother’s room but she asked him to get out. When he did not leave she pushed him in the chest and walked past him to the living room.

Blair then stated that he “can’t stand this anymore” and grabbed the VC’s wrist but she pushed him away and a struggle ensued. The two ended up back in the bedroom where Blair grabbed the VC’s hand and threw her on the bed, holding her wrist and pinning her down to the bed.

It was at this point that he reportedly told her how much he loved her. She tried to push him off but he grabbed her by the throat and choked her. When he loosened his grip slightly, the VC managed to hit Blair and he staggered off the bed. She tried to get up but was pinned down again.

It was at this point that the VC said Blair put his hands over her mouth and tried to take her clothes off. He eventually succeeded in removing her bra with his mouth and sucked her right breast. She reportedly kept on fighting but he then tried to remove her pants.

The VC kicked Blair off eventually and ran to her grandmother’s room. He went into the kitchen where he grabbed a knife and asked if she wanted to see him bleed and tried to cut himself.

Blair then held her hand and but she kicked at him and hit him in the groin. She went outside and he followed and pulled her shirt and she again tried to hit him. The defendant held on to the VC’s hand next and was squeezing her but she hit him with her free hand. He then held her by the neck next.The facts further stated that she ran to the landlord upstairs and told her what was happening and the landlord came down and spoke to the defendant. The VC went to her grandmother’s room at this point as her stomach and head were hurting but the defendant kept on banging at the door. He left shortly afterwards.

He was met later by Police and told of the allegations and he said “I did not go to her home uninvited. Neither did I attempt to rape her.” Blair was later arrested and an audio/visual interview was conducted where he reportedly said, “I did suck she breast but I did not attempt to rape she…that’s a girl I love and I would never do that to her. All I wanted was for her to love me back like she did before.”

Blair’s version of events

Given a chance to air his version, Blair told the court that he called his ex-girlfriend on the day in question before he came across in a taxi. She reportedly told him that she was in town and if he saw her, then so be it.

Blair explained that he saw her as she was heading up the hill at Huntum’s Ghut and she walked past him towards her home. He told the court that she closed the door behind her but he opened it since he was accustomed to doing so. “She asked me if I gave you permission to come inside and I said no,” he related.

Blair said his intention was to find out if she still loved him but she said no when he enquired. “But I know she lied,” Blair told the court. He further stated that he used to send her some threats when they broke up but claimed these were empty threats. He further told the court that he was shocked by the allegations that he was trying to rape her as they both knew each other better than that.

“Why would you go into her bedroom uninvited?” Magistrate Velon L. John quizzed the defendant. He responded, “I always do that, even after we had broken up, ya check? I used to always pin her down.” He confessed that the relationship had broken down because of him but Magistrate John said he already knew that.

Blair said he did not try to rape the VC and did not try to take off her pants, telling the court that the young lady was a virgin. He added that he was given opportunities several times before to ‘break’ her but declined. “I was only going off of my emotions,” he told the Magistrate. 

Sword of Damocles

Magistrate John then said the entire situation was so stupid but the defendant begged to differ. “It is not wisdom that has you here…then it has to be stupidity,” He told the defendant that one could not force people to love them. Blair was seen vigorously wiping away tears after the Magistrate’s admonitions.

He received a lengthy lecture before receiving a two-year suspended sentence of 18 months in prison. Magistrate John said the sentence would hang above the defendant’s head like the Sword of Damocles and added that it would be implemented immediately should he be found guilty of any crime within that period. He was also instructed to compensate the VC in the sum of $3,000 to be paid within the next 30 days.