George Town, Cayman Islands – Howard Lee Ebanks, a man deemed a public threat convicted of violent offenses, was sentenced to 27 months in prison in December 2023 for brutally attacking two men within a week in November 2021. Ebanks pleaded guilty to Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and wounding for the assaults, one being a revenge attack and the other stemmed from rage.
One incident involved assaulting Devin Anthony Ebanks outside a bar in West Bay, with another attack on Nicholas Derrick McLaughlin at a gas station. Despite a maximum seven-year sentence for each offense, Ebanks was already on probation due to a prior violent incident on Seven Mile Public Beach in September 2018. The defendant had armed himself with an iron pipe and later a machete during the altercation.
Ebanks claimed trauma from a home invasion and his brother’s unsolved murder triggered the attacks in November. The assault on Devin Ebanks outside the West Bay Bar was caught on CCTV, showing a violent and relentless attack. Additionally, the other victim, McLaughlin, suffered wounds to his scalp, wrist, hand, and thumb from the machete attack at the gas station.
The presiding judge considered psychiatric and social inquiry reports when sentencing Ebanks, describing the assaults as vicious and brutal. Despite mitigating factors taken into account, Ebanks received a total sentence of 27 months, with a portion to be receded consecutively. The lack of remorse and victim awareness displayed during the incidents concerned the court and highlighted the defendant’s potential for future offenses.
In light of Ebanks’ history of drug offenses and violence, the court emphasized the need for deterrence and accountability. The sentencing decision aimed to reflect the severity of the crimes and consider the lasting impact on the victims. By acknowledging the patterns of behavior and triggers that led to the violent outbursts, the court aimed to address the root causes of Ebanks’ actions to prevent future harm in the community.