The allegation is that on October 28 at the Leonora Police Station, Sergeant Narine Lall, 38, who resides in the compound of the Leonora Police Station, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and Constable Mohanram Dolai, a 30-year-old of Lot 101 East Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Tyrone Thomas with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to the said Tyrone Thomas.
The men were not required to plead to the indictable charge of felonious wounding when it was read to them by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.
Attorney-at-Law Hukumchand who represented them made an application that his clients be admitted to reasonable bail or sent on their own recognizance, stating that they had previously been granted bail by the High Court in similar matters.
Hukumchand said this present matter arose out of similar circumstances previously heard by the courts, adding that the prosecution was slow in filing this charge resulting in it not being called along with the others.
The lawyer reminded the court that his clients should be admitted to bail since information coming out of a recent crime conference suggested that first offenders should not be jailed. Hukumchand told the court that his clients were both first offenders who should be admitted to bail.
The attorney who fought vigorously to secure bail for his clients said that they are disciplined officers in the Guyana Police Force and intend to go further in the rank, despite the charges laid against them.
The prosecution objected to the bail application on the grounds that there is a likelihood they may not return to court to stand trial if granted pre-trial liberty.
The prosecution said also that although the charges arose out of the similar circumstances previously brought before the courts, one must take into account the seriousness of the offence and “the number of persons injured by the two policemen.”
Hukumchand strongly objected to the prosecutor’s reasons for objecting to bail stating that his clients have always attended court on the occasions required of them, adding that the offence for which the duo stood accused is a bailable one.
The attorney went on to say that for a person who has a previously impeccable record being denied bail can amount to being falsely imprisoned.
At the time the charge was read only Lall was present in the courtroom. About an hour after the matter was heard by the magistrate, however, Dolai presented himself in court.
No reason was given for his earlier absence but he was told by the acting chief magistrate that he was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 and he has to report to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on December 15.
The virtual complainant was not present in court.
The attorney was successful in securing bail for his clients. They were each admitted to bail in the sum of $300,000 and ordered to attend the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on December 15.
The two policemen were previously remanded to prison on charges which stated that between October 20 and 29 at the Leonora Police Station, WCD, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Nouravie Wilfred. It is also alleged that on October 28, at the same police station, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Deonarine Rafick, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.
They were, however, subsequently granted bail by the High Court.
Wilfred, Rafick and the 15-year-old lad had been arrested following the murder of retired Region Three vice-chairman Ramenauth Bisram.
