-court hears
A father of two who allegedly wounded a man and caused him to be hospitalised was remanded to prison yesterday when he appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Vernon Vyphuis, 47, of No. 9 Village, West Coast Berbice was not required to plead to the indictable charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm to Terrence Lindon.
It is alleged that on December 1 at Essequibo, Vyphuis unlawfully and maliciously wounded Lindon with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to him.
However, Vyphuis stated that Lindon had owed his wife $45,000 and a fight ensued when he asked Lindon about repaying the debt. He explained that on the day in question he, his wife and a friend were sitting on their bridge when he observed Lindon walking on the road. He stated that he approached Lindon and asked him for the money but Lindon began shouting at him and told him that he was not going to repay his wife. He said that Lindon then walked away but about twenty minutes later “I saw a big stone coming towards meh head.” He stated that Lindon was attempting to smash his head with the stone. “I stumble out de way and de stone fall on de road,” said Vyhuis.
He went on to say that Lindon then attempted to hit him with a glass bottle but he defended himself by picking up another bottle and dealing Lindon several blows about the body. He said that he did not mean to injure Lindon that badly. He noted that after the incident he went to the police station to make a report but was informed by the police that Lindon had gone to them earlier and had made a report that he was assaulted.
Meanwhile, Lindon’s wife who was also in court stated that “because ah de beating he (Lindon) lose he right eye, he jaw break and he neck fracture, right now he critical in Georgetown Public Hospital.”
The magistrate subsequently ordered that Vyphuis be remanded to prison and adjourned the matter for December 22.
