Teen walks free after stabbing ‘god-brother’

A 17-year-old who stabbed his god-brother and punctured his lung was given two years probation today.

Leshun Wolffe pleaded guilty to wounding Tijuan Swan, 16, on August 1 in Pembroke at an earlier hearing.

The court heard at 4pm on August 1, Mr Swan was walking at the ferry dock at Albuoy’s Point with three of his friends.

Wolffe was also at the dock.

A few minutes later, Mr Swan and his friends went to leave the dock when Wolffe crossed his path.

The complainant raised a cane, which he had from an old knee injury.

Wolffe then gripped the cane and the pair began to fight. Both young men fell to the ground and continued to fight.

Crown counsel Maria Sofianos told the court the young men eventually were separated and Mr Swan saw Wolffe had a knife in his hand.

She said, “The complainant started to run away when one of his friends then informed him that he was bleeding from the area of the left side of his lower back.

“The defendant was then witnessed to be holding a small knife with his left hand with what appeared to be blood on the blade.”

Mr Swan and his friends left the area in a taxi and went to hospital.

He was admitted and after being diagnosed with a puncture lung.

Wolffe was arrested at 7:44pm at his Kitchener Close, Sandy’s home.

He admitted he got into a fight with his god-brother and stabbed him.

He also told the officers he threw the knife into the water at the ferry dock.

Wolffe was taken to the Hamilton Police Station and interviewed the next day with his mother and told the officers he found the knife on the ground.

He also said Mr Swan was the aggressor and they were fighting because he is from the west and Mr Swan is from town and associated with Parkside.

In court today, Wolffe apologised to Mr Swan and said he was going to make better choices.

But Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner issued him a warning.

“If you continue this way, you’re going to end up dead because that is the history of this behaviour and this violence.

“You’re a young man and that's one of the crucial factors with regard to how I’m going to deal with you.”

He continued: “What I’m saying is that these attacks must be discouraged. One of the only ways for it to be discouraged is for it to be understood that they won’t be tolerated.”

Mr Warner gave Wolffe two years probation with condition including assessments by the Department of Court Services, a 4pm to 6am curfew and he must wear an electronic tag while living with his mother.

Wolffe’s progress will be reviewed in one month.