Horse cart operator on wounding charge

A horse cart operator charged with felonious wounding was yesterday remanded to prison.
Navendra Persaud, 28, of 1 Railway Line Better Hope East Coast Demerara, was denied bail when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magis-trate’s Court. It was alleged that on May 1 at Georgetown, Persaud unlawfully and maliciously wounded Mark Pereira with intent to maim, disfigure and cause him grievous bodily harm.

The father of one was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him.
Attorney-at-law Lyndon Amsterdam, who represented Persaud, made an application for bail on the grounds that his client has had no antecedents, has been cooperating with the police in their investigations and poses no risk of flight.
Police Prosecutor Corporal Munilall Seetaram, however, objected to bail, stating that the virtual complainant (VC) is still hospitalised and is in a serious condition as a result of the injuries he sustained at the hands of the defendant.
But the defence attorney argued that the prosecution has to present a medical from the doctor to substantiate the claim that the VC is in a serious condition.

“My Worship, what is ‘in a serious condition?’,” Amsterdam argued. “The court of law just cannot by word of mouth take away my client’s freedom because the prosecution is saying that the VC is still hospitalised and is in a serious condition, they have to back that up by evidence of a medical.”
But Persaud was subsequently refused bail and his matter was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for May 18.