A 30-year-old man received an unwelcome Christmas ‘gift’ after being severely beaten allegedly by an off-duty policeman and is hospitalized with a broken leg and elbow at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Wayne Vieira of 112 Duke Street, Kingston was admitted to the medical institution after being rushed there on Christmas night. He related that on Christmas day, he went to visit his uncle in Albuoystown and was speaking with a friend when a girl joined them.

He said that they started “making jokes” but after a while the girl could not “take it anymore” and left stating that she would call “her policeman”. Vieira said that shortly after, a named man, who persons said was a police rank, came in a taxi. The beaten man said that at this point, he was sitting on a bicycle and the man grabbed an axe handle and dealt him a blow on his foot causing him to fall.

Wayne Vieira

“He started beating me”, Vieira recalled stating that he was dealt three lashes on his left elbow causing it to break. He also sustained blows across his chest. Following the incident, which lasted for about three minutes, the man left and Vieira’s relatives, rushed him to the hospital, where he was admitted after undergoing surgery.

His right foot was broken in two places and steel was placed in his arm. Vieira stated that his uncle had gone to make a report at the Ruimveldt police station but was sent away. A report was made at the GPH police outpost.