Former New Amsterdam (NA) mayor, Errol Alphonso, yesterday appeared in a Berbice Court charged with two counts of attempted murder and was later released on $500,000 bail.
Errol Alphonso
Alphonso, 68, of Penitentiary Walk, NA was not required to plead to the two indictable counts when they were read to him by Magistrate Tejnarine Ramroop at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court, East Canje, Berbice, yesterday morning.
It is alleged that on September 3 at Penitentiary Walk, he wounded Sherwin Vyphuis and Aubrey Brandt when he discharged several rounds from his licensed firearm. The charge was recommended after the police sent their file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
On the day in question, Vyphuis who is a patient of the NA psychiatric hospital was seen in a yard next to Alphonso’s home. The former mayor now a businessman called the police at around 4:45 pm and reported that there was a suspicious man near his home and when officers arrived, Vyphuis was found hiding in a water tank. The man was arrested and placed to sit in a police van. Brandt, who was earlier arrested for another matter, was also sitting in the van.
According to reports Vyphuis began behaving disorderly and managed to escape, knocking over a policeman and Alphonso in the process. After later being recaptured he was again placed in the police vehicle but was behaving aggressively towards the businessman.
It is alleged that the mentally ill man tried to attack again and Alphonso pulled out his licenced firearm and discharged several rounds. Vyphuis sustained a gunshot wound to the knee while Brandt was hit in the groin. Both men were taken to the hospital where they were admitted under police guard.
Alphonso was also hospitalized for hypertension. He was however released from the facility yesterday morning and made a court appearance shortly after. Vyphuis was sent to the Psychiatric Hospital while Brandt was sent home.
In court yesterday, the businessman was represented by attorneys-at-law Lloyd Thomas and Ramesh Rajkumar. In a bail application Thomas told the court that his client was a Mayor for two terms and is also a prominent businessman in the NA area. The attorney added that Alphonso has been involved in social services and has been a licensed firearm holder for over 40 years.
He gave the assurance that if granted bail, Alphonso will return for his matters.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Satrohan Diaram objected to bail. The matter continues on October 7 at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
We are hearing about all these incidents, but what about the charges that should be instituted against Gilhuys. As it relates to mr: Alphanso, he should have been charged with discharging a loaded firearm and wounding, not attemped muder.
Well said Faceboy.It would be difficult to prove an attempt to murder.The injuries do not seem to be life threatening,and they were shot on the lower parts of their bodies. My jury mind tells me that the most appropriate offence,is Felonious Wounding,with the use of a firearm.He must have lost his temper.But that is no excuse.He is a licenced firearm holder,and this should be revoked.An appropriate fine,and compensation to the victims,should be the outcome.A plea of guilty should be the best course.Not a legal view,just the jury mind.
Well, Mr. Alphonso had all right to protect hisself. The law of the land is your safety comes first, so by all means necessary a person is suppose to protect his or herself if feel threaten by someone or something. Guyana is a corrupt country, the only reasoningtheir are acting like this is because of Mr. Alphonso position. How did these crooks break free in the first place, something is wrong with whole picture.
Firstly, why was Mr. Brandt sent home? Was he not ‘arrested’ by the police for committing another offence? So we can safely say that Mr. Brandt has ‘walked free’. Secondly, I would like to think that a charge of attempted murder is too ‘harsh’. Couldn’t he have been charge for ‘wounding with intent’ or some other offence other than that of ‘attempted murder’.?
MAGISTRATE Gordon Gilhuys was also wrong but he received a slap on his wrist and told to behave himself. Are we going to have a big lime when he returns to the bench?
Guyana law is so messed up, Just let Errol go, he deserves a medal.