2 US Passengers sentenced in Bermuda for attack on fellow tourist

**Ally** · 10-07-2006, 05:27 AM

HAMILTON, Bermuda Two American cruise passengers were sentenced to 90-day jail terms on Friday for the beating of another tourist on the streets of this British Atlantic territory.

Michael Donovan, 34, of Lexington Circle, New Jersey, and Joseph Pontieri, 29, of Staten Island, New York, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to fellow American Christopher Emanuel, who was badly beaten Thursday night outside a nightclub.

"Both attacked and kicked him several times. He was unable to defend himself," Bermudan prosecutor Cindy Clarke said.

Emanuel, 38, suffered a broken jaw and cuts to his face. His hometown was not available.

The men were all passengers on a Norwegian Crown cruise ship and reportedly met inside the Hamilton nightclub where a dispute involving a woman broke out. Police later boarded the cruise ship and arrested Donovan and Pontieri.

The defendants' lawyer, Llewellyn Peniston, called the incident "the end result of a misunderstanding" and said both defendants "offer their sincere apologies."

Donovan and Pontieri had faced up to three years in prison and a US$7,500 (€5,900) fine. Bermuda's Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal of the sentences on Tuesday.

The Norwegian Crown, which arrived Tuesday from New York, departed Friday for its return trip.

(International Herald Tribune)

**Ally** · 01-30-2007, 10:57 AM

**Update**

Two American cruise ship passengers jailed for attacking a fellow tourist were released from Westgate Correctional Facility at the start of December, according to their lawyer.

Michael Donovan and Joseph Pontieri were sent down for 90 days on October 6 last year after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Christopher Emanuel, 38, in an attack on Front Street, Hamilton.

The case hit the headlines here and in the States with scores of readers writing to The Royal Gazette in support of the sentence dished out by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Lawyer Llewellyn Peniston said the pair were released on December 4 and had returned to the US after serving two-thirds of their jail term.