Witnesses described their fear at seeing Sandro Gilberto Abreu Freitas (22) with a knife during the confrontation with other men on a residential street in town in ‘broad daylight’.
Four days later, after a public appeal for information, Freitas, from Madeira, was arrested at a property on Pier Road
where officers found him hiding behind a sofa.
In interview, the court heard, the defendant admitted having the argument and said the fight started over a drug dispute and an affair. The victim suffered a 3.2cm cut to his arm.
Freitas pleaded guilty to one count of grave and criminal assault and one count of possessing an offensive weapon. He was jailed for 18 months by the Royal Court.
Lieutenant-Bailiff Anthony Olsen, presiding, described the incident as ‘prolonged and violent’ and said those who carried knives – even for bravado – were a threat to society, as serious injury could be caused even without intent.
‘One witness said he did not expect to see such a thing in Jersey. We agree. Knife crime will not be tolerated in Jersey and any offenders that come before this court can expect to be dealt with severely,’ he said.
Mr Olsen said despite the defendant’s poor criminal record since he came to Jersey, the court had decided not to recommend deportation because of the ‘strong family links’ he had in Jersey and the stability he now had in his life.
He added: ‘If you re-offend we cannot say what a sentencing court will impose but, if you re-offend, be in no doubt that it is highly likely the court will order your deportation.’
Outlining the case, Crown Advocate Richard Pedley said witnesses heard a commotion in Don Street at about 5.15pm on 26 October.
Two brothers were involved in an altercation with the defendant who was carrying a knife.
A Portuguese-speaking witness told the police: ‘The man [Freitas] who was
carrying the knife was the one being more aggressive… he walked in a way
which seemed like he was a gangster… he talked as if he was going to do everything under the sun and no one could touch him.’
The witness, it was heard, saw the men ‘punching and kicking each other’ as the fight moved into neighbouring Craig Street, near the Library. An off-duty police officer then witnessed the commotion and dialled 999.
As the police arrived, the court heard, Freitas ‘lifted up his hooded top revealing the knife in his waist band’. He then approached the off-duty officer and his wife before throwing the knife onto the roof of a house and running off.
Another witness told the police: ‘Seeing the male pull up his T-shirt and seeing a blade, I did feel scared. You don’t expect that short of thing to happen in Jersey.
‘My grandchildren often play in my courtyard and if the knife had been thrown and bounced off into my courtyard, it could have hurt my grandchildren.’
Advocate Michael Haines, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earlier opportunity, offered a full and frank admission and been honest with probation officers.
The court heard Freitas had a ‘quite appalling background in his youth and teens’ and Mr Olsen said it must have been traumatic.
Jurats Robert Christensen and David Hughes were also sitting.
