“I didn’t steal the goat Sir I killed it” accused tell magistrate

When Reginald Dabydeen marched into the No.51 Magistrate Court on Wednesday he was still upset, upset at Mishy and her goat, a goat he killed one month ago.

The matter was first called several weeks ago in the court, but Dabydeen was not present. The police had charged him with larceny after it was reported that he stole a goat.

Senior Magistrate Alex Moore presided over the matter by first reading the charge to Reginald who was allowed to speak thereafter.

“I didn’t steal the goat Sir I killed it”. He told the Magistrate who then clarified to him the charge of larceny is defined as taking the property of another person with the intention of permanently depriving the owner thereof.

“But why did you kill it?” Magistrate Moore asked the accused.

“It was in the yard where I was staying at the time eating paddy and plants, so I just hit it in the head and it died” said Reginald Dabydeen.

Then came the question-and-answer segment in the court of Magistrate Moore as he often tries to understand the background behind the actions of each person who comes before him charged with various offenses.

Magistrate Moore: “Did you then give it back to the owner for the purpose of conducting a tasteful funeral?”

Reginald Dabydeen: “No Sir”. 

Magistrate Moore: Did you just leave it in the yard?

Reginald Dabydeen: No Sir. I couldn’t waste the meat”.

Magistrate Moore: Did you curry it?”

Reginald Dabydeen: “No Sir. I didn’t eat any of that goat. I took it to my neighbor and my neighbor helped me skin it. I gave the neighbor the body and 3 legs and I kept one leg for myself. I took it home, put it in the freezer and I don’t know what became of it. My neighbor and his family were needy so I gave it to them and they shared it with their relatives”.

Magistrate Moore: “Well Sir, in this entire story I don’t hear anything about you returning anything to the owner of the goat. Even if you took something off for the damaged plants and the paddy, you kind of permanently deprived the owner”.

Reginald Dabydeen: “I realize I didn’t handle it the best way but I was angry when I saw the goat eating the paddy. Also, it turns out that the goat belongs to my friend Mishy. I didn’t realize it was hers or I wouldn’t have lashed it. I told her I’m going to pay her for the goat”.

At the end of it all, Mr. Dabydeen accepted that he erred and pleaded guilty to the charge of larceny.

Magistrate Moore then announced to the court that the goat based on the statement of the virtual complainant was worth GYD $60,000.

He then deducted GYD $10,000 from the total worth of the goat for the items of Mr. Dabydeen that were eaten and damaged and ordered Mr. Dabydeen to repay the owner of the goat the remaining $50,000 within 2 months.