Man Avoids Jail Time After Wounding Woman With A Knife At A Local Bar. Sentence Was Suspended For Two Years

Yannick Donald Mclaughlin appeared before Magistrate McFarlane in the Summary Court today, March 17, 2025, to be sentenced for wounding a woman and a man at Chicho’s Bar on Dump Road.  He received 20 months for the woundings, but the sentence was suspended for two years. Additionally, he received 6 months for drug charges, which was also suspended for two years.

Background

According to the prosecution, Mclaughlin was a customer at Chicho’s Bar in April 2024 when an argument broke out between him, a customer and a woman.

The prosecution’s version of events is that Mclaughlin drew his knife and cut the woman on her arm.

The woman ran to a customer, grabbed a beer bottle and threw it at Mclaughlin.

Reportedly, Mclaughlin chased the woman, still trying to attack her with the knife.

The prosecution added that a male customer intervened and pushed Mclaughlin away from the woman, at which time Mclaughlin is said to have swung his arm with a knife at the woman but struck the male customer in his right leg instead.

When the police were called to the scene, they observed that Mclaughlin had blood on his hands. 

Reportedly, Mclaughlin appeared intoxicated and was advised that he would be detained.

Mclaughlin was arrested and transported to the hospital.

He was later interviewed, and he admitted to being involved in an altercation with the female.

He admitted that he had been drinking the beers and apologised for wounding the man and woman at the bar.  However, he maintained that he only drew his knife at the female after she had hit him with the beer bottle.

In addition to drinking beer, he was tested for drugs.  Cocaine was found in his system.

Arguing on his behalf, defence counsel John Furniss said that Mclaughlin’s version of the events is that the young lady in the bar threw a bottle at him, narrowly missing him. He was then struck in the face by another bottle.

Having been struck, Mclaughlin reportedly went into what he described as “defence mode.” This is when he produced the knife.

Defence counsel explained that while Mclaughlin did not initiate the violence, he accepted that his actions led to certain physical harm being caused.  Additionally, he felt ashamed that he had injured a female.

Sentencing

After hearing from prosecution and defence counsels, Magistrate McFarlane sentenced Mclaughlin as follows:

The above sentence was suspended for two years with the following supervision order:

1. Mclaughlin must complete 100 hours of community service within two years.
2. He must complete an anger management course.
3. He will be subject to a urine analysis
4. He must engage in a psychological assessment
5. He  must engage in individual counselling sessions at the Counselling Centre
6. Weekly attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous
7. He is excluded from Chico’s Bar for two years.
8. He must show good behaviour towards the two victims if he sees them in the community

He must at all times maintain contact with his probation officer.

Magistrate McFarlane also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.

Regarding the cocaine, Magistrate McFarlane sentenced Mclaughlin as follows:

This sentence was suspended for two years.

Mclaughlin was also charged with disorderly conduct. However, the prosecution dropped the charge.

He was advised of this right to appeal.

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