(CMR) A woman who received a suspended sentence after she stabbed her husband in the neck was not so lucky when she was sentenced for witness tampering in relation to the matter. Janelle Lavern Greenwood (48) was sentenced to eight months in jail.
Following a trial last year, Greenwood and Roger Patrick McLaughlin were convicted of attempting to obstruct the course of justice and conspiracy to obstruct the course of justice. McLaughlin was sentenced to six months, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. However, Greenwood will have to serve time in prison.
Reports are that Greenwood was drinking at home with her husband and several friends when she and another woman had a dispute. When her husband broke up the fight, Greenwood used a broken bottle and stabbed him in the neck. The man drove himself to the police station and was taken to the hospital, where the wound was stitched.
Greenwood, who pleaded guilty to the assault on the day she was to stand trial, said she had no memory of the incident because she was intoxicated. She was given a sentence of two years suspended for 18 months in that matter, with the judge acknowledging that it was an isolated incident of violence.
However, after Greenwood was charged with the assault, she called a witness to the incident, threatening her against giving evidence. When her threats failed, she pleaded with her not to give evidence as they were both mothers.
When the witness still did not respond to her pleas, Greenwood asked McLaughlin to pose as an attorney and tell the woman how to answer questions in the trial. He also reportedly went to the woman’s house three times, but she refused to meet with him. He then told another person present at the house that if she gave evidence, her immigration status would be in trouble.
The witness, who was eventually not required to testify after Greenwood pleaded guilty, reported the incidents of attempted intimidation, and both Greenwood and McLaughlin were charged.
Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, in her sentencing ruling on Friday, said that interfering with the justice system was very serious and that a custodial sentence was needed.
Greenwood's suspended sentence for the assault will begin after she has served the sentence for obstruction of justo.