The sentencing of three women charged over a violent brawl outside a cricket club began yesterday, with prosecutors calling for jail time.

Chanel Smith, 26, and Dyshantee Crockwell, 23, were both convicted in October of wounding 27-year-old Collisha Burch after a trial.

Smith was further convicted of possessing a bladed article, specifically a machete.

Their co-accused, Vanessa Blyden, 23, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault causing bodily harm before the trial began.

The court had heard that on November 9, 2013, the women had been at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club on a night out and bumped into the victim.

The defendants got into a car to leave, but as they did so Ms Burch threw a plastic cup at the vehicle, starting a fight between two groups of women.

Ms Burch told the court Smith had chopped down on her with a machete during the brawl, while Crockwell hit her with a bottle.

During the sentencing hearing in Supreme Court yesterday, prosecutor Loxly Ricketts said Ms Burch suffered injuries to her face and right hand during the attack, and still suffers from nerve damage in her hand.

He told the court that Smith and Crockwell were fully responsible for their actions, arguing that they could have driven away from the scene but chose not to.

While Mr Ricketts acknowledged that Smith and Crockwell had clean records before this incident, and that Crockwell had expressed remorse, he argued that the pair had not accepted responsibility.

He called for a sentence of three years in prison for Crockwell and between three and five years for Smith, and that Smith’s conviction for possessing a bladed weapon should carry a sentence of five years.

Regarding Blyden, the prosecutor said she had admitted her guilt at an early stage and played a lesser role in the violence.

“She did the right thing at first,” Mr Ricketts said. “She was the peacemaker and she tried to calm the situation down, but she was the first to make a physical move.”

He said a sentence of six months suspended by 18 months would be appropriate.

Defence lawyer Marc Daniels, representing Smith, argued that there was a degree of provocation and that his client had drawn a machete only after seeing Crockwell being badly beaten.

“Things escalated and all parties contributed to this escalation,” he said.

He described Smith as a young, single mother who was trying to move forward with her life while working to support not only herself and her son, but also her sick mother.

He said that while the use of a machete in the fight meant a jail term would be likely, he argued that such a sentence could be suspended, noting that Smith had spent some time in custody in the lead-up to the trial.

“This is an offence which could attract a long prison sentence, but the question is how long and should it be suspended?” he asked. “She has had that short, sharp shock.

“The question is if further imprisonment is required, will that have more adverse consequences to Smith, her mother and her son moving forward?”

The sentencing hearing is due to continue today, with representatives for Crockwell and Blyden addressing the court.

• Editor’s note: It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding active court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.