Two vulcanizing shop attendants, charged with assaulting a man, yesterday said that they acted in self-defence, after he approached them with an ice-pick and demanded that they patch the wheel of his bicycle.
Kevin Griffith, 22, of Lot 62 Queen Street Kitty, and Michael Perry, 45, of ‘E’ Field Sophia, both employees of the Clear Max Vulcanizing shop on South Road, were charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm upon Garfield Laminson, when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Although the men pleaded guilty to the assault, not guilty pleas were recorded on their behalf after their explanation to the court. They were also released on $75,000 bail each.
Laminson was not present in court and the prosecutor said he was still hospitalised.
The court heard that on October 26, at 12:32am, Laminson went to the vulcanizing shop on South Road and he and the two men had a heated argument, which resulted in them dealing lashes to parts of his body with an iron pipe.
Prosecutor Kerry Bostwich said Laminson then walked to the Brickdam Police Station, where he collapsed in an unconscious state. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he received medical attention.
But according to Griffith, the assault was an act of self defence. He told the court that on the morning of the incident, Laminson was riding around the area, hitting parked cars, which resulted in the alarms going off and affecting customers who were at the shop.
Griffith further said that after he and Perry rebuked Laminson, the man became annoyed and started to use a number of expletives but rode away.
However, he said Laminson returned later in the night with the ice pick and demanded his bicycle wheel be patched.
After they explained to him that the shop was closed for business, Griffith said that Laminson became annoyed and started to approach him with the ice-pick, threatening to kill him. In self defence, he told the court, he picked up the pipe and started dealing the lashes to Laminson, after which Perry joined in the alleged attack.
Perry then related to the court that he neither Griffith did not touch him but they acted on self defence.
Bostwich had no objection to bail but conditioned that the men report to the Brickdam Police Station every Friday at 9am.
The magistrate granted the request and set bail. She also placed the accused on a bond to keep the peace pending the determination of the case.
They case was adjourned to November 16.
