A carpenter was on Friday granted $40,000 bail on a charge of felonious wounding, after appearing at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
Ricky Lall, 36, of Zeelugt North, East Bank Essequibo, appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool on a charge which alleges that on 24 September, 2018, he wounded Lakeram Mannick with the intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.
According to the facts presented by the prosecution, the two men had a misunderstanding on the day in question, which resulted in Lall pulling out a knife and stabbing Mannick in the arm.
But while the accused pleaded guilty to stabbing Mannick, he claimed that he had done so in self-defence.
Lall told the court that both he and Mannick had been imbibing alcohol when they ran out of money to continue their purchases. As such, a decision was made to pawn a cell phone to pay for a taxi and purchase more alcohol.
He went on to say that a misunderstanding arose over the money that was received and Mannick slapped him, before attempting to hit him again with a belt buckle. This, he said, led him to pulling out the knife and stabbing Mannick.
However, Mannick told the court that he had not been a part of the group that had been drinking, but rather claimed that he was passing the rum shop where the men were, when Lall asked him for money.
In response, Mannick said, he told Lall that he should work if he wanted money, which prompted the attack on him by the accused. Having heard both stories, Magistrate Liverpool recorded a not guilty plea on Lall’s behalf and with no objection to bail from the prosecution, granted him $40,000 bail.
The case is expected to be called again on November 12 for submission of statements and fixtures.
