A janitor of the Georgetown Public Hospital who allegedly dealt a woman several cuts across her face with a razor blade was yesterday remanded to prison by Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Dawn Roberts initially admitted that on November 23 she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Deon Norton so as to cause her actual bodily harm.
After her explanation, however, the magistrate entered a not-guilty plea for her.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that on the day in question, the two women who are both janitors of the Georgetown Public Hospital were involved in an argument which escalated into a physical encounter.
According to Telford, during the altercation, the defendant dealt the complainant several cuts across her face with an object after which she made good her escape. She was later apprehended, arrested and charged.
When given a chance to respond however, Roberts who told the court that she was “guilty with explanation,” said that it was the virtual complainant (VC) who first attacked her and that she was merely acting in self defence.
The defendant explained that she and her co-worker were on duty at work when they started to argue. According to her, a scuffle soon ensued and a fan that was close by fell. Roberts said she saw a rusty razor blade lying beneath the fan and “I use the rusty razor blade under the fan and cut she with it fuh defend me self.”
After her explanation, the magistrate entered a not guilty plea for her. The virtual complainant was not in court.
The prosecution made an application for the defendant to be denied her pretrial liberty stating that the parties both work at the same place.
He stressed too that after the incident occurred, Roberts fled the scene. Under the circumstances, Telford said that there was a likelihood of her fleeing the jurisdiction and not returning to stand trial.
The North Ruimveldt Squatting Area woman was later remanded to prison until December 6.
