⚖️ Woman jailed for witness tampering in assault case

48-year-old Janelle Lavern Greenwood has been sentenced to eight months in prison for trying to prevent a friend from testifying against her in an assault case. Greenwood had previously pleaded guilty to stabbing her husband in the neck during a drunken dispute and received a suspended sentence for the assault. However, her attempts to tamper with a witness led to a conviction for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, resulting in a prison sentence.

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Greenwood's accomplice, Roger Patrick McLaughlin, who assisted in the attempt to prevent the witness from testifying, was also convicted of the same charges. Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, who presided over the obstruction trial, sentenced McLaughlin to six months in prison, suspended for two years due to his lesser involvement. He was also ordered to complete one hundred hours of community service. The judge emphasized the seriousness of interfering with the justice system and stressed the need for a "short, sharp shock" to deter such behavior.

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The witness tampering occurred in the days leading up to Greenwood's trial for the assault. Despite veiled threats and emotional pleas, the witness remained undeterred and reported the intimidation attempts. Both Greenwood and McLaughlin denied the allegations but were found guilty. Greenwood's sentence for the assault will begin after she has served her sentence for obstruction.

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