Junior Dowding, the security guard who claimed self-defence after he wounded a farmer, was on Tuesday charged in a city court and released on $120,000 bail.
It is alleged that on March 25th, at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke, Dowding, 27, of Lot 92 Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, discharged a loaded firearm on Albert Samuels, with intent to maim, disfigure and to cause grievous bodily harm to him.
Dowding pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Samuels, 60, of Madewini, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Dowding on the same date. He too pleaded not guilty to the charge that was read to him by the Chief Magistrate.
Police had said Dowding was on patrol duty at a chicken farm at Madewini Sand Pit road when he was allegedly attacked by Samuels, with whom he had a previous dispute.
Samuels reportedly threw a knife in Dowding’s direction, causing him to sustain a wound to his chest. As a result, Dowding, discharged several rounds into the ground and the pellets ricocheted, hitting Samuels to the left arm and leg.
Appearing on behalf of Samuels was attorney Motee Singh, who told the court that the incident happened at his client’s residence. He said during the incident his client’s son was blindfolded and his family was threatened by Dowding. The lawyer further requested that Samuels be placed on self-bail.
Dowding’s lawyer, Haymant Ramdhani, while making a bail application for his client, told the court that his client was confronted by Samuels, who was wielding a spear. “The virtual complainant wounded my client and the wound that he inflicted speaks volumes,” Ramdhani told the court.
The police prosecutor in the case objected to bail for Dowding, since a firearm was discharged.
However, after hearing submissions, the Chief Magistrate granted bail to both parties. Dowding was granted $120,000 bail, while Samuels was granted $35,000 bail. They were both ordered to stay 50 feet away from each other. Their matter will be called on April 25th at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.