Man charged with attempted murder of wife after La Penitence market chopping

Ishwar Heeralall, 38, the man who allegedly chopped his estranged wife at the La Penitence Market, was yesterday charged with the crime and had his bail set at $600,000.

Heeralall, of Anna Regina New Housing Scheme, Essequibo, was not required to plead, when the charge of attempted murder was read to him by city magistrate Judy Latchman.

The court heard that on July 31, at La Penitence Public Road, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Heeralall unlawfully and maliciously wounded Wanita Heeralall, with intent to commit murder.

Ishwar Heeralall
Ishwar Heeralall

The charge stems from a confrontation between the couple at the market, where Ishwar allegedly dealt Wanita, 31, of Laing Avenue, several chops to her body, including her forehead.

“He chopped me two time on my left hand, chop my forehead and was about to chop me again but I blocked it with my right hand,” Wanita had told Stabroek News from her hospital bed.

She said she was picked up after the incident by the police and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, while her husband was chased by vendors and eventually apprehended.

“We always had domestic problems and it is because of this that I chose to leave him. But he couldn’t accept that I left him and moved on with my life. He was after me all the time although we separated since last October,” she said.

Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt had no objections to bail but he urged that the father of five be ordered to stay away from his wife, who is recovering at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Hunt also asked that if bail is granted to the accused, he should lodge his passport with the police.

The magistrate subsequently set bail at $600,000 and ordered the defendant to report to an officer in charge at the Criminal Investigation Department at the Ruimveldt Police station every Friday.