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Suspended sentence for Dublin man who attacked shopkeeper with broken wooden sword
Summary
In July 2015 the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced 26‑year‑old Keith Johnson to a suspended three‑year term with two years of probation supervision for assaulting shopkeeper Sarwan Gill and his son Daljat Gill. Johnson had entered Gill's Indian Mini‑Market while "out of his head" and tried to steal sweets. After being confronted by Daljat, Johnson threatened to kill him, punched him, and fled in a Mercedes. Gill pursued Johnson's car, struck it with a wooden "martial arts training sword" that broke the car, and later chased Johnson back to the shop. Johnson then used the broken sword to strike Sarwan, breaking his wrist, and struck Daljat about five times, knocking him unconscious. Johnson was identified on CCTV, arrested, and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. The judge noted the rapid escalation and the shopkeeper's right to defend himself, and imposed the suspended sentence with probation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for Dublin man who attacked shopkeeper with broken wooden sword. Charges or matters: two counts of assault causing harm at the shop on Cabra Road on May 6, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 6, 2014 Incident
- 2015-07-09 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of assault causing harm at the shop on Cabra Road on May 6, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan said his first inclination was to jail Johnson and that it "was a close run thing." He said the situation escalated very quickly and Sarwan Gill was "perfectly entitled to do what he did." Judge Nolan said that Johnson deserves a chance despite his disgraceful behaviour and imposed a three year sentence suspended for three years with two years probation supervision.
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