Sentencing pushed to May 7 in acid attack case
Published:Friday | April 11, 2025 | 12:09 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
The sentencing for the St Catherine woman who left another woman with severe burns and blind in one eye following a brutal acid attack in which three persons were injured was, on Wednesday, pushed back to May 7 in the Home Circuit Court.
Justice Leighton Pusey postponed the sentencing in order for the probation officers to interview the three complainants. The probation officers had indicated in the social enquiry report that they were unable to reach them.
However, the judge pointed out that although the court has received the victim impact statement in which the complainants give their personal account of how they have been affected by the crime, it is important that they be interviewed by the probation officers who are trained in that area and would provide a broader view of the situation in the report.
The attack, which occurred nearly three years ago on a Coaster bus in St Andrew, reportedly, was fuelled by jealousy.
Gray, at the time, reportedly, was involved with in a relationship with the ex-boyfriend of the intended victim, Nicolette Beckford.
A male bus driver and a female passenger were injured during the October 1, 2021, incident.
Gray, who has been in custody since the attack, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was further remanded.
Beckford suffered third-degree burns to her face, shoulder, neck, chest, and back. The other victims sustained burns to their bodies from the corrosive substance.
The attack occurred while the complainants were travelling on a bus heading to Half-Way Tree. As the intended target signalled for a stop and turned to exit, Gray doused her with the acidic substance. She continued the assault as the woman spun around, leaving her skin appearing to melt.
Authorities later recovered a ketchup bottle containing the substance at the scene. Gray was arrested and charged that same day.
HARDSHIP, SUFFERING
Meanwhile, Beckford in a recent interview with The Gleaner, detailed the hardship and suffering that she was experiencing as a result of the unfortunate incident.
The 46-year-old woman, whose life literally crumbled after the incident, still requires further surgery on her breast, eye, and neck. She also reported that she wa now experiencing challenges with her vision in the other and is desirous of getting some assistance to have the eye tested and to obtain glasses.
“Mi mash right up. Mi nuh feel comfortable, like to put on mi clothes, to do mi hair, and go on di road fi enjoy miself. Mi nuh celebrate birthday no more. Mi life change completely,” Beckford said. “Me never expect mi woulda just have mi life just throw way so.
“Sometime mi sidung, mi cry, mi stress out, mi grab a cigarette, a spliff, and mi grab a special (alcoholic blend), and me just sidung by miself, and mi good until mi ketch myself,” she said.
Beckford, despite her situation, said she has already forgiven her attacker and hopes that she will be given her freedom so that she can return home to care for her underage daughter.