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Youth who broke curfew to buy weed jailed for 2 mths

Nikolai Brathwaite admitted in court it was a ‘useless’ reason to break curfew
April 23rd, 2020 | Tags: court curfew weed Nikolai Brathwaite guilty jail
Carrot Bay resident Nikolai Brathwaite on April 20, 2020 pleaded guilty to Breach of Curfew, admitting to the Magistrate’s Court he broke the law to purchase marijuana. Photo: VINO/File
Nikolai Brathwaite was on April 20, 2020, sentenced to 2 months at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut for Breach of Curfew. Photo: VINO/File
Nikolai Brathwaite was on April 20, 2020, sentenced to 2 months at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut for Breach of Curfew. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Despite his passionate plea for a non-custodial sentence, stating that he wanted to spend an upcoming birthday with his infant child, Nikolai Brathwaite was sentenced to two months at Her Majesty’s Prison for ‘Breach of Curfew.’

The Carrot Bay man pleaded guilty to the offence before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin on Monday, April 20, 2020, via video conferencing.

According to Prosecutor Mr O’Neil Simpson, Mr Brathwaite, along with another young man who was also charged and sentenced for the same offence, were seen walking around Road Town during the ongoing curfew.

He was taken to the Road Town Police Station for questioning on April 15, 2020, and during an interview, he said he left his home to purchase marijuana to smoke.

He was subsequently charged with the offence.

Lesson learnt

Mr Brathwaite said, during his plea in mitigation at court, that he was sorry for breaking the curfew.

He implored the court to impose a non-custodial sentence because he had an infant and a girlfriend who relies on him for support.

He said his child would be turning three in a few weeks’ time and wanted to be there to celebrate it.

Unmoved, Magistrate Benjamin said the defendant should have taken all of that into consideration before he decided to break the law.

“I am sorry that I broke curfew for such a useless reason. I just spend the last seven days in a cell. I just don’t want to go in another cell,” he said.

Mr Brathwaite then told the court that being inside the cell at the Road Town Police Station has taught him a lesson that he should not hang around “bad company”.

The ongoing curfew is slated to end on Sunday, April 26, 2020.

33 Responses to “Youth who broke curfew to buy weed jailed for 2 mths”

  • Conscious Society (23/04/2020, 11:23) Like (47) Dislike (16) Reply
    "Quarantine is when you restrict the movement of a sick person , tyranny is when you restrict the movement of a healthy person."
    • Norris Turnbull (23/04/2020, 14:27) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      @Conscious Society... in your consciousness stop being an ass. When does Tyranny means what you are sounding? When has the Government of the Virgin Islands acted in like manner? Why believe things the soul tell you are lies?
  • wow (23/04/2020, 11:40) Like (48) Dislike (0) Reply
    You swear the fool broke the curfew to get food for his son! but instead for weed. Ladies watch who you get kids with!
    • @ SMH (23/04/2020, 12:13) Like (6) Dislike (17) Reply
      don’t knock it until u try it
    • Greg (24/04/2020, 10:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Whenever people get busted for something, all of a sudden they remember their children and use them as an excuse to get sympathy from the law. Well, if you loved your children that much, you wouldn't be out there mingling with others to bring the disease home to your child, because you don't know who has it and neither do the others....STUPID ASSES, the whole lot of them.
  • BS! (23/04/2020, 11:50) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    1 down, 131 to go? Let's make sure EVERYONE treated the same or just let this young man go. All a dem going to get 2 months at Balo? It should be so.
    • Trinidad & Tobago (23/04/2020, 13:27) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
      we run thing violated curfew violated immigration laws and no time @ HMP just a pocket change fee
  • Dr. Weed (23/04/2020, 11:56) Like (19) Dislike (6) Reply
    When would people under weed has been voted as number depression and stress relier… right now everyone is stress out each have their habits or need their habits to maintain. So used rum, some used sex, some Masturbate, some smoke weed, some run etc. I do believe the people who didn’t need food and requested should be fine or jail for criminal act.
  • new at this (23/04/2020, 12:28) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    04.20 is national weed day, he should only be charged for breaking the curfew
  • Challenger (23/04/2020, 12:34) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    @conscious society

    Really....?......I thought.quarantine is when you restrict the movement of a healthy person to prevent them getting sick...for the safety of everyone in the community
    • @Challenger (23/04/2020, 13:35) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      Meeh Sheep
    • watching (23/04/2020, 17:28) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply

      Persons who have been exposed to persons tested positive for COVID-19 have been quarantined. The rest of the VI not under quarantine but under curfew as an additional measurement to mitigate the spread of this virus. I was once like you who didn't take the virus too seriously until it hit home. So many young people dying from this virus. It is not your normal flu virus. We still learning about it and everyday you hearing something new, including that it causing stroke in people in their 40s and younger, especially those who displayed none to minimal symptoms. This virus knocking down people who were otherwise healthy, much less those with a compromised immune system or the elderly. The BVI has hardly a choice in this. if this virus runs uncontrolled in the BVI, it will be the end of tourism. Who gonna come here? Which country will let their people back in their country who has a travel history relating to BVI? Until there is a vaccine or more knowledge of this virus the BVI has NO choice in this matter but to isolate, quarantine and restrict the movement of people as much as possible, especially since you may never know who has the virus. Do your own reading and pick sense from nonsense rather than biasing your mind to conspiracy theories. Trust me, there is a conspiracy theory for everything. COVID-19 is not spared from that. Read but also reason, with facts and not speculation! be safe

  • OK Then (23/04/2020, 12:44) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
    Deport him...tolans let me see in favor this.
  • GG (23/04/2020, 13:26) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    advantage never done
  • decriminalize (23/04/2020, 15:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now is a good time for a break. Yet this issue needs to be decriminalized and allow persons to plant their own instead of having it smuggled in when the curfew is over.
  • Hear This (23/04/2020, 15:14) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    he dont give them nothing talking about he support them he dont give them a thing so he best stop lie onley when they brake the law them remember they have kids thats played out come better
  • GG (23/04/2020, 16:05) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply

    Under the current situation we in, it is time for compassion!!!!! Let the man go home to his family! Two months?! You could of given the man two weeks or the one month - better yet, put all curfew breakers down for community service. A lot of persons are breaking curfew (for all type of reasons).. you people just crucify who you feel to crucify.. set of hypocrites and haters! This lock down is simple - the elites just want to force their vaccine agenda!!!

    • Akeem Green Arms (23/04/2020, 18:37) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      He need a good @ && whooping
    • They just hate men (23/04/2020, 19:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Seems like they had bad experiences growing up with men... it has to something like that... When a they see a young black man the hate stir up in them....Jail..
  • No Mercy.. (23/04/2020, 19:08) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Lord have mercy...Them have no mercy for our young black men..
  • indee (23/04/2020, 19:37) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    You should of used the going out for water excuse. you to honest talking about you going for weed
  • uh (23/04/2020, 19:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Think and do don't do and think
  • GG (23/04/2020, 20:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    He has a child? Omg time flies.
    I understand the need for weed. But you are a father now. Some things got to stop
  • Weedsa (23/04/2020, 21:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    So he left all the way carrott bay for weed boy yo stupid all he have to do wsd askhe neighbour here dread get high
  • sympathy (23/04/2020, 22:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nicholai, I'm feeling sorry for you right now. I do know that your girlfriend and child is depending on because I know the baby mother doesn't work. Breaking the curfew for weed is not essential, and I'm praying that the Magistrate be lenient on you for the sake of your child. If she does, I hope you learn from your mistakes and think about your family before you go and do the wrong thing again.
  • willie t (24/04/2020, 11:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well well. He started off with a fairly noble excuse and then went stupid. These little weed heads are still lurking around smoking together.


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