| A wedding house brawl over an old grievance landed a Grove, East Bank Demerara resident at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of unlawful wounding. He was placed on $75,000 bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on Friday. |
Andriff Gillard, 25, of Third Street, Grove, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on August 24, at Grove, East Bank Demerara, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Ramon Brito.
Gillard was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson who, in an application for reasonable bail, said that his client is a barber by profession and was before the court for the first time. He noted that Gillard was already placed on $10,000 station bail for the offence.
Thompson related that the incident, which occurred at a wedding house, stemmed from an old grievance over an amplifier. Brito was a former employee of his client. He said that the details of the matter will be ventilated in court during the trial and noted that his client has denied inflicting injuries to the virtual complainant.
He also related that his client was not a flight risk ,and will attend court whenever he is required to do so.
Brito, the alleged victim, told the court that the defendant chopped him with a razor on the face. The injury caused him to receive fifteen stitches, seven internally, and eight externally.
He noted that, at around 10: 00hrs at the wedding celebrations, he saw the defendant and asked him for the $39,000 that was owed to him. Brito claimed that the defendant then took a Guinness bottle and struck him to the head. Gillard then went into his pocket, took out a razor, and slashed his face.
Thompson disputed the facts as stated by the virtual complainant, and reiterated that his client did not commit the offence. He contended that there were witnesses who can testify to his client’s innocence.
Police prosecutor Otis Harvey did not object to bail, but asked that it be substantial, and so guaranteeing the defendant’s return to court for the trial.
The matter will continue at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on October 29.
