Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday ordered that a 20-year-old soldier be remanded to prison when he appeared before her on a charge of unlawful wounding.
Vincent John of Linden who is accused of slashing a man to his upper lip with a knife denied that on October 21, at Curtis Street, Albouystown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Owen Ross.
John told the court that he has been absent from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for over three months since he is dealing with an important family problem.
He stated that he and Ross are friends and he never slashed him with a knife.
He said on the day in question he and Ross had gone to the “Weddy Weddy Wednesday” in Albouystown, when Ross approached him with a man and pointed him out to the man who was asking for ‘Black boy’. He said that when the man realized that he was not the person, he went away. He said that Ross became upset when he voiced his displeasure at him always pointing him out to someone and dealt him a cuff to his face.
He said that he dodged the next cuff but he retaliated by also dealing Ross two punches to his abdomen. He said that Ross then placed his hands to his mouth and ran away.
However, Ross, who exhibited a plastered upper lip stated that he, John and a few others had gone to the “Girls gon wild dance, wey de girls does wear short skirt and pants pun dey hip and does some crazy dance moves.”
He stated that a man was looking for someone called ‘Black boy’ so he brought him to John who was also called by that name.
He said that John immediately became offended and started to argue with him.
He went on to say that John then took out a knife which he used to slash his upper lip.
He said that he ran from the area and went straight to the hospital where he was treated and obtained a medical that he gave to the police when he made a report of the incident at the police station.
He saw John several days after and pointed him out to a policeman in the area and he promptly arrested him.
He also noted that he had received four stitches to the wound to his upper lip.
Prosecutor Krishnadat Ramanah objected to John’s bail application when he suggested it, on the grounds that it was difficult to locate John prior to his arrest. He said that John is currently absent from the GDF without leave.
John is expected to make another court appearance on November 2.
