A young man was yesterday refused bail and sent for psychiatric evaluation after he was charged with wounding his stepfather and assaulting his mother.
It is alleged that on January 31, at East Ruimveldt, Junior George unlawfully and maliciously wounded Jacob Greaves. He was also charged with unlawfully assaulting his mother Pauline Greaves on the same day.
The young man, who was unrepresented by counsel, pleaded guilty but a not guilty plea was recorded for him after he offered an explanation to Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick told the court that the two virtual complainants (VC) are husband and wife, while the defendant is Mrs Greaves’ son.
Bostwick said that on the day in question, the defendant got upset with his mother when she told him he could not stay at her residence because of his behaviour. Bostwick said the accused became annoyed and slapped his mother.
He said that when Jacob Greaves intervened, the accused pelted him with a brick, which struck him at the back of his head. Bostwick said the two VCs became frightened and reported the matter at the East Ruimveldt Police Station.
George, when given a chance to explain, told the court that he was at home and he went out to see a girl. He said his mother told him that he should not have left the house while her husband was praying because he would become annoyed.
The young man claimed that his mother took him to an ‘iniquity person’ who did some kind of work on him. He said since then he has noticed that he has been acting strangely. George said people would mock his behaviour.
The accused said that on the day in question he confronted his mother and asked her to take him back to the person who did “the work” on him to have it removed.
He claimed that while he was talking to his mother, his stepfather approached him with “a jukker”. He said his mother held on to his vest and he ended up slapping her accidentally since his stepfather was about to stab him. He said after he managed to escape, he saw a brick and pelted it at his stepfather.
Bostwick objected to bail citing that the defendant has no fixed place of abode. He further stated that the accused needs psychiatric help, since he appears to be a threat to himself and others.
Pauline Greaves told the court that she had taken her son to see a psychiatrist some two months back.
The defendant was then told by the magistrate that if she decided to grant him bail he could not go back to his mother’s house and he would have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
George told the magistrate that he does not have a problem with carrying out her requests.
When asked by the magistrate where he was going to live, he said he would stay at his friend’s house on a dam in North/East La Penitence.
However, the magistrate refused bail and acceded to the prosecution’s request for the defendant to have a psychiatric.
He will make his next court appearance on February 7.
