Man accused of slashing foster son remanded

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson remanded to prison a 55-year-old man who allegedly slashed his foster son in the face when he attempted to protect his mother after the man charged at her with a glass bottle.

Keith Barker, of North Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful wounding when he on Thursday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that on Tuesday last Barker unlawfully wounded Chester King so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

“Right now I ain’t saying nothing cause I suffering from two fractured ribs plus I waiting pun me lawyer,” Barker told the court in his defence.

Meanwhile, King said on the day in question he was talking to his mother in front of their gate when Barker drove up in a car, disembarked and asked his mother, “Yah know how long I wan foh kill yah?”

He said Barker then took out a glass bottle and attempted to hit his mother and she ran off.

King said when Barker chased after her, he too ran after her in an attempt to protect her and Barker hit him on his back with the bottle causing it to break. He said Barker then stabbed him to the left side of his face with a piece of the broken bottle then fled the area.

Prosecutor Munilal Seetaram objected to Barker’s bail application on the grounds that he had threatened to kill King’s mother on more than one occasion since the demise of their long-term relationship some weeks ago.

In response, Barker shouted “De allegations dat de prosecutor said is false.” He then said King’s mother had asked him to transport her to a funeral shortly after the alleged incident.

Prosecutor Dennise Griffith then told the court that Barker had been involved in another stabbing matter and that the man that he had allegedly stabbed was still hospitalized.

Barker then stated that he was involved in a fight with that individual.