Hackney Canal man draws 9-month prison term over wounding

A Hackney Canal, Lower Pomeroon River man was on Monday found guilty of unlawfully wounding another man and sentenced to 9 months in prison in absentia.Mark Fredericks, a 33-year-old labourer was charged on June 11.

According to the police, at around 7.30 pm on September 9, 2013 Stephen Leaton Boyan was at his home when Fredericks went to his house and called for him. Boyan asked what the problem was and Fredericks inquired about what had transpired between his brother and Boyan earlier in the day. Boyan went downstairs to talk with Fredericks and he claimed that when he reached the bottom of the steps, Fredericks lashed him about his body with an object. Boyan fell to the ground and lost consciousness and when he regained consciousness, he was lying in a pool of blood.

Boyan had told the police that he remained at home and a report was made to the police the next day and he was subsequently hospitalized as a result of the injuries he sustained.

On June 11 of this year, Fredericks was seen and apprehended by the police since he had fled the jurisdiction. The man was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he made his first appearance in court but after the Administration Justice Act was applied, a summary trial was conducted where he pleaded not guilty and was placed on $20,000 bail.

At the time, he was represented by Attorney Latchmie Dindyal who later withdrew his services after Fredericks never returned to court.

An arrest warrant was issued for Fredericks but was recalled by the magistrate and the matter which was tried ex parte saw the man being found guilty of the offence.