Domestic Abuser Chopped by Victim’s Son
There is another case of domestic violence to report tonight. Hattieville resident, Richard Smith is accused of constantly abusing his common-law-wife, Ursula Ferguson. But today, her son stepped in to defend her and things went downhill for Smith. They same weapon, a machete, he had utilized on Ferguson, was used by the fourteen year old minor to ward him away. Police say it is a case of self defense and the minor won’t be charged. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Richard Smith is tonight hospitalized at the K.H.M.H. after he was chopped multiple times to the body with a machete by his fourteen year old stepson. The incident occurred following a domestic dispute between the Hattieville resident and his common-law-wife for nine years, Ursula Ferguson. According to police, they were initially called to the Bainesville area of Hattieville this morning by Ferguson who feared for her life.
Edward Broaster
ACP Edward Broaster, Regional Commander, Rural Eastern Division
“The female was held and prevented from calling the police, when she did manage to call the police and the police responded, the suspect fled into the bushes. Sometime thereafter, he went and hid into the ceiling of the house and when the victim returned with her son, he attacked them both. Hence the reason the son defended his mother and inflicted the wounds upon the suspect, who had inflicted wounds on both of them as well.”
Voice of: Terry Saunders Ledlon, Daughter of Victim
“Dehn mi deh inside and dehn mi have dehn fight and my ma couldn’t take it no more and she jump through the window and when she jump through the window; he probably figure that she mi wah holler fi somebody fi help ahn. He jump through the window behind ahn and she reach under the house bottom. And he gone behind ahn and chop ahn with a machete weh ih probably mi have yes. When ih chop ahn, my lee bredda from inside but at first two of them mi di rattle too because he mi di try help my ma because nobody wah di watch dehn ma di get hurt. So when she jumped through the window and he jump through the window, he get frighten and jump through the window too so he see that how ih chop my ma with the machete. And when that happen, my bredda get wah machete and he just start chop ahn back fi try fi help because nobody wah stand up fi watch nobody hurt dehn ma and thing.”
According to Ferguson’s daughter, Terry Saunders Ledlon, the relationship has been fraught with alleged abuse by her stepfather. She believes that her mother would have been killed if her younger brother hadn’t intervened.
Voice of: Terry Saunders Ledlon, Daughter of Victim
“Dah my ma and my bredda di go through this thing with my stepfather and dah wah situation weh always…one thing over and over with domestic violence with them and fi dehn relationship. From then that di happen, but then yo know that dah life too and yo can’t get ina people thing. But sometimes yo just have to put dehn thing away because yo could dead ina dehn life yah.”
Duane Moody
“Do you think that if your brother didn’t intervene that he could have maybe killed your mother?”
Voice of: Terry Saunders Ledlon
“Well many times he attempt to kill my ma and yes, I never blame ahn fi jump in. Anybody woulda mi do it. fi he own people mi wah do the same thing—which in fi he people dehn jump in fi thing too—everybody love dehn family, right. I think if my bredda neva deh yah and he done hit my ma already, done put ih hand pan ahn and done chop ahn already; ih probably mi wah kill ahn right ina yah. I sorry fi weh happen and whatnot…I can’t say dah good fi he; I can’t say what fi my ma, but the point is dehn need fi done this cause domestic violence dah noh fi play with.”
In this most recent incident this morning, Ferguson and her fourteen year old son were injured and Smith will be facing charges for several offenses.
ACP Edward Broaster
“Domestic violence is a ticklish thing, hence the reason why I am not calling any names in this case, nevertheless, the suspect will be arrested and charged and taken to court for the offenses that he had committed.”
Duane Moody
“The son will not be charged any at all because it is self defense?”
ACP Edward Broaster
“Yes, the son will not be charged.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
