Christopher Emanuel
Date: October 03, 2006
Cruise Bruise: Assault
Bruise Location: Bermuda
Age: 38
Home Town: New York
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Ship: Norwegian Crown
Details:
Attorney Peniston said the men, who are both elevator engineers, were of previously good character.
Christopher Emanuel
Cruise Ship Passenger Assault Victim
Norwegian Crown - October 03, 2006
He pleaded with the judge to have mercy on their families. Both are married and Pontieri has a four-month-old son while Donovan has a two-year-old daughter.
"Prison has been a sharp, short and shocking experience for them," he said, claiming they faced losing their homes and jobs.
But Mr. Justice Greaves said: "Did these men not know at the time they decided to assault a man that they were the sole providers of the household, that they had young children and if they got into trouble they could lose their job? Is that not a consideration that any right-thinking man would make?"
He said of his view of events: "When a man is going along the street, going back with his lady, they have followed him and beaten the stuffing out of him. What prompts anybody to feel so mighty that they can treat another human being like that? How can you reduce another human being to a state of nothingness and then complain the man treated them wrong when he locked them up for three months?"
After hearing submissions from Ms Clarke, who said the sentence was not unjust, Mr. Justice Greaves rejected the appeal. Donovan put his head in his hands and appeared to brush away a tear, while Pontieri looked stunned. An angry Thomas Donovan stormed out of court as his son was led back to the cells, saying: "What are we in, a communist country here? You get better law in China than in this goddamn place."
He added: "This is the way Bermudians treat tourists? When I go back to the States I will tell everybody about this country. You will never see me here again, I will never buy a British product and I plan on going to the British consulate in New York City about why I feel inhuman treatment is given in court. I will be contacting my Congressman, Senator and Hillary Clinton, although I don't think they can do anything. I will be contacting as many travel agencies as I can and letting them know about the unfair treatment."
However, he praised the American Consul and the Westgate guards for their professionalism and assistance.
Pontieri's wife, Carolyn, left court with their four-month old baby – also called Joseph – without commenting.
