Former New Amsterdam (NA) mayor, Errol Alphonso, yesterday appeared in a Berbice Court charged with two counts of attempted murder and was later released on $500,000 bail.
Alphonso, 68, of Penitentiary Walk, NA was not required to plead to the two indictable counts when they were read to him by Magistrate Tejnarine Ramroop at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court, East Canje, Berbice, yesterday morning.
It is alleged that on September 3 at Penitentiary Walk, he wounded Sherwin Vyphuis and Aubrey Brandt when he discharged several rounds from his licensed firearm. The charge was recommended after the police sent their file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
On the day in question, Vyphuis who is a patient of the NA psychiatric hospital was seen in a yard next to Alphonso’s home. The former mayor now a businessman called the police at around 4:45 pm and reported that there was a suspicious man near his home and when officers arrived, Vyphuis was found hiding in a water tank. The man was arrested and placed to sit in a police van. Brandt, who was earlier arrested for another matter, was also sitting in the van.
According to reports Vyphuis began behaving disorderly and managed to escape, knocking over a policeman and Alphonso in the process. After later being recaptured he was again placed in the police vehicle but was behaving aggressively towards the businessman.
It is alleged that the mentally ill man tried to attack again and Alphonso pulled out his licenced firearm and discharged several rounds. Vyphuis sustained a gunshot wound to the knee while Brandt was hit in the groin. Both men were taken to the hospital where they were admitted under police guard.
Alphonso was also hospitalized for hypertension. He was however released from the facility yesterday morning and made a court appearance shortly after. Vyphuis was sent to the Psychiatric Hospital while Brandt was sent home.
In court yesterday, the businessman was represented by attorneys-at-law Lloyd Thomas and Ramesh Rajkumar. In a bail application Thomas told the court that his client was a Mayor for two terms and is also a prominent businessman in the NA area. The attorney added that Alphonso has been involved in social services and has been a licensed firearm holder for over 40 years.
He gave the assurance that if granted bail, Alphonso will return for his matters.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Satrohan Diaram objected to bail. The matter continues on October 7 at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.