by Linda Straker
- Workmen at Kavanagh site did not witness physical assault by entire family on Smith
- Smith/Kavanagh matter scheduled to be heard on 28 July
- Arley Gill, lawyer for the Kavanaghs, has expressed concern
Eyewitnesses to the incident involving Evan Smith and the Kavanagh family are disputing the claim that every Kavanagh family member physically assaulted Smith before the police arrived on the scene.
Smith’s wife, Nicole, claimed that on Thursday, 25 June 2020 her husband was driving a vehicle which ran over a dog causing its death. Her husband did not stop after running over the dog, but continued to a construction site to drop off staff. Kavanagh followed Smith’s vehicle, and she said that Kavanagh informed her husband about the incident, requested personal details such as contact numbers and address, and instructed him that he should not leave the scene because the police has been contacted. Kavanagh left Smith at the construction site and returned to the scene where the dog was killed, on the side of the road near Kavanaugh’s house construction site.
Relaying what transpired, Smith said her husband was going to drop off another worker at another site, but Kavanagh stopped the vehicle her husband was driving and removed the keys. At the same time, Kavanagh’s wife proceeded to stop Smith from exiting the vehicle by slamming the vehicle door towards him. This was followed by a physical assault by all 4 members of the family.
However, Jehron Felix, a workman at the Kavanagh house construction site, said that he did not witness any physical assault by the entire family on Smith. Felix, who acted as a peacemaker during the commotion, admitted that Sarah Hatton, Kavanagh’s wife, did approach the vehicle instructing Smith to remain in the vehicle until the police arrived.
Foreman for the project, Leslie Prime, who left the construction site, also confirmed that the children were instructed to remain in the family vehicle during the commotion. He did not see the entire family beating up Smith.
Arley Gill, the lawyer for the Kavanaghs, has expressed concern with the behaviour of persons who are not seeking to hear both sides of the story. “This is not a public trial by any means. All that we need to say is that what is on social media and broadcast in the news is a gross misrepresentation of what transpired.” Gill recently served as a magistrate in Dominica.
“Flagrant lies, blatant lies and what we heard so far has been far from the truth. What is the truth? The truth is there was absolutely no racism on the part of Mr Donal Kavanagh, his wife and children. There is absolutely no truth that the family of Mr Kavanagh beat up on anybody. If there were any such racial statements and slurs it did not come from the Kavanaugh family, it came from elsewhere. This incident has caused a lot of pain, a lot of heartache to the family. They have been threatened publicly through different social mediums. They have been attacked through their business via Facebook and elsewhere. There has been protest action without persons stopping and thinking or trying to find out what is the fact. The racial undertones that came here on the scene last Thursday never came from the Kavanagh family. I ask persons to deliberate and to think and to hear both sides of the story and do not come to conclusions. Let the matter be heard in the court. I ask also that persons will respect the Kavanagh family and cease the verbal abuse on social media and elsewhere. I tell you one thing, the first step in justice is the truth. Without truth, justice rings hollow.”
Within hours of the incident becoming a trending news item, a protest was organised by concerned citizens calling for justice for Evan Smith, while the Kavanaghs began receiving death threats via telephone and through Facebook messages.
The Kavanaghs then went to the South St George’s Police Station, but instead of filing a report, they were detained. They were officially charged on Sunday morning with causing harm to Evan Smith. The matter is scheduled to be heard on 28 July.
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I am a caucasian woman in a relationship with a black Grenadian man (of African desent).
He and his family do have a total disregard for dogs. They have killed stray dogs and it is the norm and have neglected their own dogs when they have grown tired of caring for them and these dogs have suffered and died.
He and his family also have a hidden hatred for caucasians. They have a really ignorant attitude problem that you can’t overcome. And yes, it has greatly effected our relationship.
Grenadians of African Decent need to repatriate if they feel such hatred and racism toward other settlers..
They are not the Indigenous People. The Indigenous People are truely humble.
Grenadians of African American desent should be ashamed of their racism and abuse of this poor family and their dog.
Grenadians of African American desent are not the indigenous people of Grenada. They too are settlers.
And if this is how they choose to be they should repatriate.
Frank.
You are racist.
You are ignorant.
And you are a bbigot.You make me sad and you make me sick.
Drivers on the road
Obey the high way code
Because if you bounce a poor dog today
I don’t want to hear what you have to say..
Do some research. Educate yourself. Please look up these offensive terms that you use.
honkey
coon
If you research their origins you may not wish to use either term ever again.
And please do some research about the United Kingdom as well please.
If you do your research you can then maje some intellugent and informed comments to enhance your argument.
*make
*intelligent
Mr Donal and Miss Sarah well colonialism is alive and kicking.
This has nothing to do with colonialism or race. The families dog was run over and it has caused an argument.
Bettilou
Your ignorance makes me sick.
An attorney should have his day in Court in properly defending his clients, not doing so all over in the media.
This has nothing to do with having a sharp attorney defending his clients, this is Grenada… If they got money they WILL get off.
I totally disagree. Did you even read the article M Wilson?
I have read through these comments and I am really shocked. Was it race? I don’t know. Does preferential treatment exist in Grenada? HELL YES! Does racism exist? Yes. Did some take it on a racial side and overreact? Maybe. But to read that adult people will think that its justifiable for someone to abuse another is sickening. Did he maliciously run over the dog? I don’t know. Let the matter be tried in the court. But no matter what, it is absolutely wrong for a person to attack another… whether black on black or white on black. To see the same people advocate for a dog and still turn and say a cuff on the lip is not enough is hypocritical. You will defend an animal but won’t stand up for abuse of a human?
The law is clear. Dogs must be leashed. I have a dog and I live by the main road. Whenever I untie my dog and he goes into the street I run after him and bring him back because I know what can happen. How many dead dogs and cats do we see in the street? Do we now go look for all who ran them over and beat them up?
And Ms. English Rose who doesn’t want to come to Grenada. That’s your loss. Grenada is by far one of the safest Caribbean countries. Let’s say you are from the UK… is it without crime and violence? I will go a stretch and as this too… is it without prejudice to black people? Show me your stats where it says Grenadians have targeted white tourists when they come ashore to vacation. Tourists have been coming here for years …. many are repeat visitors. They certainly won’t do that if we are as despicable as you have insinuated. Maybe you are guilty/ashamed of the injustices your people inflicted on us so now you have an excuse to hide behind… again, your loss… if that’s your mentality, you won’t be missed.
Very well said! It always make me wonder when will we be truly independent.
Evan Smith’s wife took this to social media and the press and the black Grenaduans have made this a ravist issue.
*Racist
*Grenadians
Grenadian.
You are so racist, ignorant and full of hatred that I know trying to reason with you would be a complete waste of time.
Curse you for spreading your hatred and ignorance. People like you, you are responsible for the damage in the world.
Arley, I guess you have to sing for your supper! I pity you. So, the injuries to Mr . Smith were self inflicted and the assault was a blatant lie. Please!
I know you’re not, but portions of you statement make you sound like an idiot.
True Patriot
“””””True Patriot”””””
Have you even read this article? You idiot comment suggests not.
Do you know what the word patriot even means?
You are african people, you are all from Africa. You and the caucasians are all guests on this island. Give Grenada back to the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE and go back to Africa please. You are all to ignorant and full of hatred to claim ownership of this beautiful island.