On October 6, his attackers, Alpheus Gillett, was charged with attempted murder; and his father, Austin Gillett; sister, Velda; and brother, Anthony were charged for conspiring to commit murder.
On that terrible day in September of 2003, Smith recalled that while they were asleep at about 10:00 p.m., the Gilletts were having a party, and four of them [the Gilletts] – the father and three children ? allegedly went over to his home and called out for him.
He said he got out of bed and opened the kitchen window, against his wife?s warning, and was shot by Alpheus, who fired twice at him.
One of the bullets lodged inside the house, and the other hit Laurencio in his left eye.
(The story was reported in the Tuesday, October 8, 2003, issue #1805 of Amandala, titled, ?Bad business in Biscayne – bullet in the eye!)
In the conclusion of a Supreme Court session in April of this year, Alpheus Gillett was found guilty of attempted murder and the judge, Justice John ?Troadio? Gonzales had ordered that Gillett pay a fine of $25,000 in May, 2005; a $10,000 fee that was to be paid to the court, and $15,000 compensation that was granted to Smith, which was due to be paid, after an extension had been granted, by August 31 of this year.
Today, Smith said that of the $15,000, he has only collected $800 and is seeking the balance, which was scheduled to be paid by June of 2005.
Smith said that he had been pushed around, and there seems to be no one in office who can explain to him why he has not been able to collect all his money at this time.
The accused, in June of this year, was granted an extension to make the payment by August 31, 8 days ago, but up until today, September 8, he has not completed his payment.
He said that he has learned that Alpheus should have never been granted an extension in this matter, because he has been told by an officer of the court that only if Alpheus had paid a substantial amount of the total, then was he eligible for an extension.
Smith also said that on his last visit, another officer had told him that if the accused failed to make the payment, then they would arrest him.
That was never the action taken on August 31, when the accused failed to meet the deadline once again.
Since the 2003 incident, Smith says that living 500 yards away from his neighbor has been a challenge. He had to spend almost a year away because of the emotion between the two families.
Smith says that he has now moved back home, but says that the strength to deal with his situation has come from the grace of God, who has given him guidance and power to be strong.
Smith is a taxi operator who has four children, ages 29, 20, 14 and 12.
Late this evening, Amandala spoke with the Assistant Registrar General at the Registry, who told us that they had done their part in assisting Smith, and that he had directed Smith as to what he needed to do in order to get the compensation money that the court had ordered the accused, Gillett, to pay Smith.
According to Usher, in the case of Smith, the court, in May of this year, had ordered Gillett to pay ?a fine of $10,000 forthwith; in default, 5 years imprisonment, and compensation fee in the sum of $15,000 to be paid to Smith by June 30, 2005.?
Usher said that Gillett had paid the $10,000 to the court immediately that day, but the amount due to Smith has not been paid, but it is not the court?s responsibility when someone is not paid what they were ordered to get. That person, he said, needs to get his or her money by seeking legal aid, and this was clearly told to Smith.
According to Smith, at the conclusion of the court case when Gillett was found guilty, the judge, after hearing a mitigation plea from the lawyer, decided to fine him $25,000 instead of serving 25 years in prison.