A married couple and a teenage schoolgirl were chopped in a shocking attack aboard a minibus along the Corentyne on Wednesday morning.
Meena Crawford Morrison, 40, of New Budhram Housing Scheme, West Canje, Berbice is currently a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital for treatment of the severe injuries she sustained in the attack, which was carried out by a man known to her and her husband.
Her husband, Glen Martin Morrison, 43, and Yashmani Totaram, 16, of Number 19 Village suffered minor injuries and were released after treatment at the Port Mourant Hospital.
Their assailant, of New Amsterdam, was held by residents at Number 1 Village and handed over to police shortly after the attack. He is expected to be placed before the court as early as today.
Stabroek News was told the couple had secured a restraining order against him three months ago and he had been ordered to stay a hundred feet away from them.
The attack occurred around 8 AM, shortly after the Morrisons joined a Number 63 route minibus from New Amsterdam bound for Whim Village on the Corentyne. When they boarded the bus, they saw the assailant, with whom they shared a history, in the back seat. They sat in the seat in front of him.
Stabroek News was told that while the bus was on the East Coast Berbice highway, the assailant started to accuse Meena Morrison of stealing his jewellery. However, the woman ignored him and he persisted with the accusations for quite some time. As a result, her husband turned to him and asked why he was harassing the woman. The exchange between the men triggered an argument that culminated with the assailant pulling a cutlass from a bag he had filled with clothing and other items and firing chops.
Meena sustained injuries to her head, shoulders and right hand, while her husband suffered minor wounds on his neck and hand and the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School student received an accidental chop on her left hand.
Although the driver of the minibus was headed to the nearest police station after the argument ensued, he did not make it after the assailant started to use his weapon.
An eyewitnesses told Stabroek News the bus stopped at the Number 1 Village Road, Corentyne and passengers rushed out. The assailant also fled from the bus. However, residents chased after him through the village access road.
The witness said the assailant eventually tried to seek refuge in a home where the door was open. However, the homeowner shut her doors after she saw the man ascending her stairs. At that point in time, residents caught up with the man and apprehended him. He was beaten after he made threats to kill the men that chased after him. He was later handed over to the police.
