Man lashed friend with cutlass after row – court hears

A man who was accused of maliciously wounding another man was on Monday placed on $40,000 bail after he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The allegation is that on September 21 the accused Hasslinton Brathwaite unlawfully and maliciously wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC) John Bishop.

In presenting the facts Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that the two parties in this matter were friends and on the day in question at about 17:30 hrs the VC was standing in front of the yard with his friends when the accused came home and parked his car. Harvey further stated that the VC told the defendant that he could not park his car there because it would be  blocking the entrance and subsequently an argument ensued between the two.

Harvey told the court that the defendant became annoyed and asked the man if he wanted a problem and then he chopped the VC to his neck and his hand. The matter was reported and the accused was later charged, Harvey said.

When given a chance to speak the defendant told the court: “He tell me that I can’t park my car there so I told him come and move it then, so when I said so he picked up a wood and lashed me with it so I rush for me cutlass and lash him.”

After listening to the accused, the acting chief magistrate asked if the prosecution had any objection to bail. Harvey said that he would not object to bail but asked that it be granted in a substantial sum.