A 19-year-old from the United Kingdom appeared before the Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to face accusations that he attacked his father with a blender and strangled him with the appliance’s chord.
Sebastian DeCastro Gray, who was visiting his parents’ residence in Lambert Estate, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The defendant, who does not have a defence attorney, apologised for his actions, and explained that he snapped while confronting his father about an incident that occurred during his childhood.
According to Crown Counsel Melissa Brewley, the defendant approached his father, Simon Gray, while he was watching television at his home on July 13.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendant recited the Lord’s Prayer, told his father he was going to hell, and then struck him in the head with his fist.
He continued to attack his father, at one point hitting him in the head with a blender and choking him with the appliance’s cord, Ms. Brewley said.
The father eventually escaped, and police were contacted, according to the prosecutor.
The virtual complainant was treated at Peebles Hospital for blunt trauma, she added, and the defendant was taken for a mental health assessment.
For the protection of the parents, the Crown advised Magistrate Vareen Vanterpool that a deportation order should be issued.
“His parents are fearful,” Ms. Brewley said.
However, after reviewing the case for about an hour, the magistrate opted to delay sentencing until Aug. 18.
Ms. Vanterpool, who urged the teenager not to allow past traumas to destroy his life, granted $25,000 bail signed with one surety, and ordered the defendant to attend counselling and anger management.