A 22-year-old welder, who was accused of stabbing his stepfather during an altercation, was remanded to prison yesterday after he was charged with attempted murder.
Joel Persaud was not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 1.
The charge alleges that on June 16th, 2019, at Little Diamond Public Road, Persaud wounded George Jones with intent to commit murder.
Persaud told the court that he was sleeping under the table at his home when Jones suddenly attacked him with a cutlass. He stated that after he was chopped, he ran to his neighbour’s home and remained there until the police came and took him to the hospital.
However, according to Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, Persaud was involved in an argument with his mother after she refused to give him food. Jones, who is Persaud’s stepfather, decided to intervene after Persaud became abusive towards his mother, Mansfield said. He was subsequently stabbed by Persaud. During the altercation between the two men, in an attempt to defend himself, Jones also inflicted serious injuries on Persaud. Persaud was arrested on June 17th, at a neighbour’s home.
Mansfield objected to bail being granted to the defendant based on the fact that Jones is hospitalised in a serious condition. He also noted that three of the witnesses to the crime reside at Persaud’s residence.
The magistrate subsequently ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Persaud to prison. Persaud is scheduled to make his next court appearance on July 8th, 2019.
