Oneka Gilead, who allegedly doused her husband with hot oil, was charged with attempted murder in the New Amsterdam Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Gilead, a mother of two of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, was released on $65,000 bail by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.
According to the charge against her, on May 24th, 2015, she threw a skillet of hot oil on Osmond Gilead, who sustained severe burns on his face and other parts of his body.
After the charge was read to Gilead, her attorney Charrandass Persaud told the court that his client was charged as a result of hearsay. He questioned if the police ever spoke to the victim, now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while noting that the man never made a formal report of an offence being committed on him.
Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus later criticised the prosecution for making out the charge and not having a complete file of evidence, while noting that officers know they should not file a charge against an accused without having a statement from the victim.
In rebuttal, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sherriff indicated to the court that investigators did not have the opportunity to take a statement from the victim. He noted that investigators enquired about the victim’s condition before making out the charge.
Persaud argued further that the court should dismiss the charge, given the fact that the victim did not make a complaint to the police. He also stated to the court that even though the accused made a formal report to the police of the injuries she sustained from the altercation with her husband, he was not charged. The accused sustained minor injuries to her face, chest, arms and legs.
However, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus said she could not dismiss the matter at the current stage even though the police failed to provide the relevant medical report and a statement from the victim.
The magistrate granted bail and instructed Gilead to report to Central Police Station at 6PM on Fridays. The next hearing in the matter is set for June 16th at the Sisters Magistrate’s Court.
