Phillip Smith of Lot 1744 New Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of felonious wounding when Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to him.
It is alleged that on March 5 at Barr Street, Kitty, Smith unlawfully and maliciously wounded Roxanne Goodman with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause her grievous bodily harm.
Smith stated that he and Goodman had a common-law relationship for over 24 years and had only broken up last year. He said she would usually send their daughters to his home to “clean me out”. He said his daughters would usually steal from him for their mother.
He stated that on the day before the incident he was standing at the bus park when he noticed one of his daughters, who was staying at him at the time, standing some distance away with Goodman.
He said he approached them and inquired from his daughter what she was doing there since he had left her at his home. He said that she told him she was sick.
He said he peeked into his daughter’s handbag, which seemed bulky, but she pulled it away from his view.
He said he then rebuked her about stealing from him for her mother.
He said that he later went home, but shortly after he entered the house two cars pulled up and several persons came rushing out.
He said when they noticed that there were no movements in the house they left but subsequently returned only to leave again.
Smith said that about 2:30 the next morning the gang returned along with his ex-wife who he alleged he overheard saying that she was going to kill him.
He said he then lost his composure and attacked and chopped his ex-wife with the cutlass.
Goodman, who was also present in court wearing bandages around her head and left hand, denied Smith’s account of the incident.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford objected to Smith’s bail application, stating that advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions is to be sought in the matter.
The magistrate refused the bail application and ordered that Smith return to court on April 7.
