Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank James Cadogan was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with the attempted murder of his former girlfriend during an attack at his Paradise home.
Cadogan appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, where he was not required to plead to the attempted murder charge.
Cadogan, who was wanted by police after the stabbing of his girlfriend and her mother, reportedly turned himself in at the Cove and John police station on Wednesday in the company of a lawyer.
On July 5, the man allegedly stabbed both his girlfriend and her mother in an attack at his Paradise, East Coast Demerara home.
The attack had left 24-year-old Zenida April, who is a serving GDF member, hospitalised.
Nevorne April had told Stabroek News that after an argument last Monday evening, Cadogan reportedly threatened to stab the young woman, prompting her to go to her mother’s Georgetown residence.
Nevorne related that on the following day Zenida decided to go to collect her clothing from Cadogan’s Paradise home. Although unable to get a police escort to go to the property, Zenida, accompanied by her mother, brother and a cousin, went to Cadogan’s home, where the man was present. She and her mother proceeded into the house to pack her things while the brother and cousin were waiting for them outside.
Nevorne said there was a subsequent altercation and the man armed himself with a knife and began stabbing Zenida, saying “Yuh think anybody else gun get yuh? Yuh lie! I tell you I’m not leaving you!” The mother stated that Zenida ran to her, resulting in a scuffle during which she was also stabbed.
Cadogan later fled.
Both Zenida and her mother were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The young woman was stabbed eight times about her body, including to her neck, chest, arms and back, while her mother was stabbed once to the shoulder. The mother was treated for the injury and discharged.
Following the attack, Cadogan allegedly continued to make threats to the young woman’s life via voice notes he sent to her mother.
