Rockell Browne, an employee of the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, has been sentenced to four years in prison for stabbing a female colleague three times with scissors during a workplace confrontation in 2022.

Justice John Spencer imposed the sentence in the High Court on Monday after Browne was convicted of wounding following a judge-only trial in July.

Browne maintained that she acted in self-defence, but the court rejected her account after considering witness testimony and video footage of the confrontation.

The judge said the footage showed Browne initiating the altercation.

Before being sentenced, Browne apologised directly to the complainant in court.

Her attorney, Wendel Alexander, urged the judge to consider her remorse, her children and other personal circumstances. He also pointed to a favourable probation report and noted that the complainant’s injuries did not require an extended hospital stay.

Alexander further told the court that Browne had already been suspended from her Transport Board job for two weeks because of the incident and asked the judge to consider compensation.

Browne had worked at the Transport Board for 13 years and had recently been promoted.

Justice Spencer said the probation report described her as generally peaceful, reserved and respectable, although it also indicated that she could be hot-headed.

He also questioned the timing of her apology, noting that it came after the case had proceeded to trial.

The confrontation happened as the complainant was preparing to leave work in 2022. She had already clocked out and was entering a room to collect her bag when she encountered Browne in the doorway.

The court heard that Browne pushed the woman into a light switch, causing the room to go dark before a physical fight broke out.

After another person intervened and separated the women, Browne grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed her colleague three times.

Browne claimed she had been attacked and was defending herself. She also alleged that the complainant regularly bumped into her at work and said she had previously reported the behaviour to three supervisors.

One supervisor, however, testified that Browne had never made such a complaint to her. A witness to the confrontation also gave evidence during the trial.

Justice Spencer ultimately rejected Browne’s self-defence claim and found her guilty of wounding.

The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. In imposing four years, the judge took several mitigating factors into account, including Browne’s children.

Browne was also ordered to undergo anger-management counselling.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Rockell Browne Jailed Four Years for Stabbing Transport Board Co-Worker.