Former National Carnival Calypso Queen, Tonicia “Queen Anastasia” Martin was on Monday October 31st, handed down a suspended sentence by High Court Judge Justice Trevor Ward QC, for acts of cruelty to one of her children.In January Martin pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on the minor in August 2013. According to the pre-sentencing report Martin admitted to beating and burning the child.
According to a Winn Fm’s L.K. Hewlett report “The judge sentenced Martin to two years imprisonment, suspended for one year. He warned that if Martin is convicted of an offence during that year, she could be brought back to court and the jail sentence activated”. The learned judge before passing sentence said Martin’s act of cruelty was a “horrible act” which appeared to be intentional.
“Justice Ward QC called the beating an act of cruelty, one that appeared to be intentional and deliberate.
“It was a horrible, horrible act,” he said.
The judge said he took into account the vulnerability of the child, the severity of the injuries inflicted, and that Martin failed to seek medical attention for the injured child.
He also considered her guilty plea and attempts to seek counseling to control her anger.”
“Justice Ward said he was persuaded that the case warranted a custodial sentence. He said if it wasn’t for the fact that the 36 year-old mother of six has to care for her toddler child, she would have been sent to prison, but he had to take the welfare of the 3-year-old into consideration,” according to the Winn fm report.
Martin was represented by Lawyer Marsh Henderson who asked for leniency for Martin, who was pregnant at the time of the incident, and who was showing signs of depression and anxiety. Attorney Henderson asked that consideration be given to Martin as she is currently raising a three year old child, and had been proactively taking steps to amend her ways.