Man jailed for Snapchat streaming attack: Cayman News Agency

(CNS): Sidney Henry, 21, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, of which he will serve at least 10 months, after admitting to a “vicious attack” on a former friend last year. In addition to the violence, Henry cut the victim’s hair and live-streamed the attack on the social media platform Snapchat.

Henry had no previous violent criminal record, but Judge Cheryll Richards said the circumstances of the attack indicated he should be detained because it was a targeted and planned attack motivated by Henry’s dislike of the lifestyle of his former classmates and church members.

During the sentencing hearing, the judge never made clear what aspect of the victim led to discrimination, whether it was gender, sexual orientation or religion. However, during the attack, Henry chopped off all but two strands of hair from his old friend’s head.

The judge said this compounded the indignity the victim experienced when she was physically assaulted, particularly when the attack was live-streamed on social media. Prior to the attack, Henry made a series of threats on other social media platforms to seriously harm the victim. He also circulated intimate photos of the victim on social media without permission.

The man attacked by Henry was playing video games with a friend in a shed one night last October when the power went out. The power cord was unplugged, then plugged in and unplugged again shortly after. After hearing a rustling in the bushes, the victim went to investigate with a flashlight. That’s when he encountered Henry and another man.

The attack began almost immediately. Henry punched his former friend in the face and repeatedly struck him with the blade of a rusty machete. The victim managed to dodge Henry, but the attacker threw an object at the victim, who fell to the ground.

Judge Richards said Henry then continued to beat the former friend and subjected him to a prolonged and sustained attack, causing injuries to his face, head, arms, hands, back and buttocks. It was not until Henry grabbed the victim’s T-shirt that the victim was able to free himself and escape to the safety of his home, where he fell into a coma while waiting for an ambulance.

According to a victim impact report, the injured man was severely traumatized by the incident. He has been suffering from nightmares and is worried that Henry will come after him when he is released from prison.

Henry was arrested months later and charged earlier this year. He pleaded guilty shortly after his first court appearance and admitted he was intoxicated at the time of the attack.

The court heard Henry had a disturbing, violent and dysfunctional upbringing, where he was often beaten, which he said were carried out recreationally by his parents. He admitted he had a drinking problem, but after being detained, he told social workers before sentencing that he wanted to turn his life around and become a better person for his unborn child and mother.

He expressed deep regret and sorrow for his actions, as the victim had been a close friend of his, and Henry also wrote to him directly to apologize for his actions, admitting that he had no justification and that he should have known better.

The judge noted that Henry’s anger appeared to be fuelled by his dissatisfaction with his friend’s choices. Appearing in court via video link from Northward, where he has been in custody for months, Judge Richards told Henry directly that he had no right to interfere with people’s lifestyle choices.

She said these were “private decisions and you shouldn’t express your views, let alone commit a crime,” and condemned Henry for the unprovoked, vicious and premeditated attack.

Taking into account aggravating and mitigating factors, the judge sentenced Henry to 30 months in prison, but considering Henry’s early guilty plea, the judge said he was entitled to a one-third reduction in sentence, reducing the sentence to 20 months.

Taking into account Henry’s current situation, the judge decided not to suspend his sentence, but instead to have him serve half of his sentence in prison and half in the community. She also ordered Henry to continue the counseling and rehabilitation treatment he has been undergoing since he was detained during the remainder of his detention and after his parole.