Local artist Desmond Alli remains doubtful that justice will be served after he was served with a lawyer’s letter for speaking out about an assault on him, while police are yet to make an arrest.
Alli, 63, of Lot 36 Vlissengen Square, East Ruimveldt, was allegedly attacked by a relative and other unknown men at his home last Wednesday, resulting in him having to receive 18 stitches to his scalp.
Alli told Stabroek News that he was hit in the head with a hammer during the assault, which he said stems from a property dispute.
He explained that the home which he occupies with his family, including his elderly mother, has been at the centre of a feud between himself and a relative who currently resides overseas. He stated that on the day of the attack, his relative along with a group of four men visited the residence on the pretence of rectifying an electrical problem.
Not suspecting anything, Alli, who was in the yard working on a piece intended for this year’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations, granted permission for the men to enter the yard. However, not long after the men entered the yard, they started ordering Alli to take his “garbage” and vacate the house.
Alli explained that he tried to tell the men to leave as they had no authority to make such demands since he has been paying rates and taxes for the property for the past 35 years. In response, he said one of the men dealt him a blow to the head with a hammer as his relative restrained him.
The man related that as a result of the hit, he collapsed and his son, who was in the yard at the time, ran to his rescue, at which point his attackers reportedly left. Alli noted that he was then taken to the hospital, where he waited for five hours before receiving medical attention. Afterward, he was informed that police officers would have to collect a copy of the medical certificate issued by the doctor.
However, the man explained that it seems as though the police at the East La Penitence Police Station, where the report was made, are dragging their feet on the investigation as no one had been arrested up to yesterday.
Additionally, Alli explained that threats were also made against his wife by his relative.
According to Alli, he had been living at the family house since his return to Guyana 35 years ago. And while he is not in possession of a transport for the house, he had made the necessary moves to secure the transport years ago with the assistance of an attorney-at-law although he could not say why it was never issued.
Alli further noted that since the assault was reported in sections of the media, he has been served with a legal notice from a relative’s attorney, informing him that the recently published information surrounding the incident is defamatory and libelous. The letter went on to say that any further publications of such kind would warrant legal action against him.
Alli related that he is not as wealthy as his relative and cannot retain a lawyer. As a result, he is relying on the police to do their jobs so that charges can be instituted against his attackers.
