A physically challenged man who allegedly assaulted a woman while she was standing next to him was remanded to prison on Monday when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Bernard Luckoo

Bernard Luckoo of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful assault.

It is alleged that on March 19 at Longden Street, Luckoo unlawfully assaulted Radika Tiwari so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

However, Luckoo stated that on the day in question he was walking on the road with his crutches to brace himself up when it skidded on an empty bottle. He said that in an attempt to prevent himself from falling he swung his hand around and in so doing Tiwari, who was standing next to him, was accidentally hit in her face. The man said that when he finally regained his balance he apologized to Tiwari and went on his way.

He said that subsequently he was informed that he was wanted by the police for assaulting Tiwari.

Meanwhile, Tiwari, who was also present in court, stated that on the day in question she was standing on the road when Luckoo approached her and dealt her a cuff to her face. She said that he then told her “Yuh get more like this fuh get until yuh pay me.”

She said that the following day, Luckoo went to her workplace and told her the same thing. She later made a report to the police station and Luckoo was  arrested and charged.

Prosecutor Dennise Griffith stated that on the day in question at about 6 pm Tiwari was standing on Longden Street when Luckoo approached her and dealt her a cuff to her face for no reason. However, as Griffith was about to continue, Luckoo interjected saying “Wuh is this, fabrication and victimization all in one.”

When told to calm himself down by the court’s orderly, Luckoo shouted, “I is Jesus Christ, I is de Prince and without me yall can’t live good.”

At this point, the magistrate ordered that Luckoo be escorted out of the court but as the orderly attempted to do so, Luckoo held on to the bars next to the dock shouting threats.

The magistrate subsequently ordered that Luckoo be remanded to prison and that he appear back in court on April 14.