Seven of nine men who attacked and chopped a man all over his body five years ago were sentenced in the St Ann Circuit Court today.

They are Lennox Brown, Christopher Campbell, Kemar Brown, Damion Raymond, Damone Austin, Texroy Perry and Kurdane Virgo all of Liberty district in Brown's Town, St Ann.

Virgo was given 15 years' hard labour and Lennox Brown 12 years' imprisonment, while Campbell, Raymond, Kemar Brown, Austin and Perry were sentenced to 14 years each.

Henrick Wilson was freed by the jury. The court heard that the ninth accused Kirk Patrick Virgo had absconded and is overseas.

The Crown led evidence that on May 26, 2007 about 10 p.m., the complainant was at the Brown's Town Mall in St Ann.

knives, machetes and bats

The court heard that all nine accused attacked him with knives, machetes and baseball bats and chopped and beat him. The court heard that the men normally extort money from students, including a relative of the complainant, who was attacked speaking to them about it.

Following the attack and investigations by Detective Sergeant Kirk Nichols, they were all arrested and charged with attempted murder.

During the trial, the Crown heard evidence from a medical doctor who spoke to the injuries of the complainant whose arms and legs were severely damaged.

The men were represented by attorneys-at-law Ernest Smith and Robert Brown. Presiding judge was Justice McDonald Bishop.