Man wounded father-in-law who intervened in couple’s dispute

– court told

A 28-year-old man was yesterday charged with unlawfully wounding his father-in-law who had intervened in a disagreement he was having with his wife.

Mark Cumberbatch of 111 North Sophia, Bel Air pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Ryan Ferrier on July 1, 2008 at Georgetown.

According to Cumberbatch, Ferrier is his father-in-law. On the day in question, Cumberbatch said, he and his wife had an argument and Ferrier interrupted and lashed him with a plate. He told the court that he then ran out of the house bleeding.

However, Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford told the court that while the defendant and his wife did have an argument, the defendant was threatening to injure his wife with a knife and when the virtual complainant intervened, the knife was turned on him. Further, Telford told the court that the address given to the police was different from the one given to the court. The prosecutor however did not object to bail but asked that it be substantial and that conditions be applied.

Cumberbatch, explaining his two addresses, told the court that the address he had given the police was his mother’s and the Bel Air one was where he lived. At the time of the incident, Cumberbatch said, he was living at his father-in-law’s place.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson after listening to the arguments placed Cumberbatch on $50,000 bail. He is to return to court on March 31.