Lodger charged with night shelter wounding

A lodger of the East La Penitence night shelter was yesterday charged with wounding a fellow lodger and he was remanded to prison since he had nowhere else to stay.

It is alleged that on Wednesday, October 12, Earl Gathers wounded Brian Robinson, causing him actual bodily harm at the East La Penitence Night Shelter. Gathers was not required to plead to the indictable charge, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that on the day in question, Robinson was in the company of another lodger at the shelter when the defendant, armed with a sharp object, started to chop him. While trying to defend himself, Robinson sustained a chop to his neck, for which he received stitches. The matter was reported to the police and Gathers was arrested.

The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant had no fixed place of abode and was unlikely to return for trial.

Gathers, when asked by Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry if he had any relative with whom he could reside or if anyone was present in court for him, replied in the negative. As a result, the Magistrate transferred the case to Court Three, Gathers was asked to try to contact one of his relatives or friends in order for bail to be considered.

When the matter was later called in Court Three, no relative or friend was present for the defendant and as a result he was remanded to prison. The case will be called again on October 28.