A Brazilian national, accused of chopping a friend’s hand and causing it to be amputated, was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail after he pleaded guilty to the crime.
Richard Martin, 46, was sentenced by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown after he was admitted to a charge of unlawful wounding.
The charge stated that Martin, on January 5, 2015, at Central Rupununi, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Shurland Kissoon, with the intent to maim, disfigure or cause bodily harm.
According to the facts presented to the court, on Monday, January 5, 2015, the suspect and Kissoon had a misunderstanding, which then escalated when Martin took out a cutlass from his waist and dealt Kissoon several chops to his elbow and hand. As a result, Kissoon was forced to have his left hand amputated.
The court also heard that the defendant had left the country after the altercation occurred but returned to Guyana sometime after and was charged.
Subsequent to the facts presented, Chief Magistrate McLennan sentenced Martin to three years in jail.