Bartica resident charged with attempted murder

TIMES INT'L

Kevin Bennett of Sixth Avenue, Bartica was on Monday remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One, charged with attempted murder. 

Bennett was not required to plead to the indictment, which stated that on December 26, at Kumaka Landing, North West District, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Delon Jones with the intention of committing murder. 

According to police prosecutor Stephen Telford, Jones operates a shop in the Kumaka area, and on the day in question, the defendant approached him to purchase credit for his phone, but was told that the shop was already closed and it was impossible to attend to him at that time. 

The defendant then took out a knife and stabbed the virtual complainant to his chest. The victim was rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on duty; but because of the severity of the injuries, Jones was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.

Telford requested that the defendant be refused bail, because of the seriousness and prevalence of this type of offence in interior locations. He added that the victim is still in hospital in critical condition, and he requested that the matter be transferred to the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court for January 19. 

In his submission, Bennett told the court that he was acting in self-defence. He explained  that, on the day in question, he went to the shop of the VC to purchase a packet of cigarettes, but did not have money to pay, so  he and the VC agreed that he would barter a piece of gold for the cigarettes. Bennett said that he handed over the piece of gold to the shop keeper with the intention of collecting the cigarettes, but the VC went into his shop and then came out, claiming that he did not collect the gold. 

This, Bennett alleged, led to an argument, during which the VC picked up a bottle and advanced towards him, so he armed himself with a knife and stabbed the victim. 

The matter will continue at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on January 19.

 

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