A man who chopped another with a cutlass, was yesterday sentenced to seven years in jail when he appeared before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the High Court in Georgetown, where he admitted to committing the act.
Bhajan Nauth, called “Lall,” and “Boy,” who was charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty in the alternative, to felonious wounding.
Nauth accepted that on December 30, 2013, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, he wounded Hubert Jerry, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, or to maim, disfigure or disable him.
Justice Barlow commenced the sentence at 10 years, but thereafter deducted two years for Bhajan’s guilty plea, and an additional nine months, for the time that he has been in custody awaiting trial.
The facts which were not contested by Bhajan, were that Jerry was walking towards his home at Lot 4, Diamond Squatting Area, when he saw the convict in his yard standing near a fireside, saying, he wanted to kill someone.
Jerry told the man to “take a rest,” as he continued on towards his home.
The court heard, that just about that time, Jerry felt something bore him to his left side, and realized that Bhajan had pushed a cutlass into him, as he threatened to murder him.
Jerry started to run, after the weapon was pulled from his body, but fell facedown. Bhajan then began chopping the complainant to his left shoulder.
The court was told that the attack was witnessed by a member of the Golden Grove Community Policing Group, who immediately arrested Bhajan who said that his reason for chopping the complainant, was because he had kicked his food from his pot.
The court heard that a pot was observed on two stones, but there was no food around it, nor any fire beneath it.
Bhajan was represented by attorney Madan Kissoon.
The state was represented by Prosecutors Tamieka Clarke and Shawnette Austin.
