Malvin Taylor was yesterday remanded to prison after being arraigned on charges of attempting to murder his wife and sister-in-law as well as discharging a loaded firearm at a man.
Taylor, 34, of 51 ‘D’ Field Sophia, on January 26, at Quamina Street, Georgetown, allegedly attempted to murder Sharon Taylor and Michelle Richards, by discharging a loaded firearm at them. On the same day, Taylor, a former Presidential Guard, is also accused of discharging a loaded firearm at Aubrey Smith, with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to him.
Taylor, appearing before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, was nursing a broken left leg and was aided by crutches. He was not required to plead to the indictable charges of attempted murder and discharging loaded firearms when they were read to him.
In presenting the prosecution’s case, Police Corporal Venetta Pindar said that the incident which led to Taylor opening fire on the complainants was a report of infidelity. According to Pindar, Taylor, his wife and sister-in-law were all at Quamina Street in his car when Sharon requested to step out and proceeded to speak with Smith, whom she saw.
Moments later, Pindar related, Taylor became angry at the fact that his wife was speaking with Smith and as a result drew for his gun and discharged several rounds in the man’s direction, as well as that of Sharon and Michelle, hitting the women in the process.
Pindar said that after the shooting, Taylor made good his escape and had been in hiding up until he handed himself over to police in the company of his attorney on Thursday evening. She added that the firearm has not yet been recovered.
In addressing the issue of bail, Pindar requested that Taylor be denied his pre-trial liberty, while noting that his wife is still hospitalised in a critical condition. She said too that if granted bail, there is a likelihood that Taylor may want to interfere with the witnesses.
Richards, who had visible injuries to the left eye, was the only complainant at court yesterday.
Attorney Nigel Hughes, who represented Taylor, said that it was Smith who first opened fire on his client, resulting in him responding in a like manner in a bid to defend himself.
Hughes said that his client was innocent of the charges levelled against him and opined that if he wanted to shoot at the women, he could have done so since he was in the vehicle with them all along. He contended however that it was Smith, after seeing his client and wife in the car, who started shooting.
According to Hughes, the three were on their way to purchase food when Sharon suggested that they make a brief stop on Quamina Street, where after seeing Smith she exited and approached the man and started to talk. Moments later, he said, he [Smith] opened fire.
In a passionate appeal for bail, Hughes said that his client, who suffered a broken leg at the hands of his wife, was in need of medical attention. Hughes said that Sharon, after being questioned by her husband about her suspected infidelity, pushed him through a window, causing him to sustain a broken leg. Taylor, who appeared to be in pain, had to be assisted by police officers in and out the courtroom.
After listening to both the prosecution and defence, the magistrate informed Taylor that he would be remanded to prison. He was ordered to return to court on February 8 for statements.
