Homeless man remanded over shelter mate assault

A homeless man was yesterday charged with assaulting another who was staying with him at the Night Shelter.

The accused Anthony Harrylall appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The particulars of the offence stated that on December 19 at the Night Shelter, Harrylall assaulted Tyrone Persaud so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Lionel Harvey said that the two parties are known to each other because they both live at the shelter. On the day in question, Harvey said, Persaud was standing outside the compound when the defendant walked up to him and dealt him a cuff to his head. Harvey also told the court that the accused admitted the offence when he was arrested and then he was charged.

After listening to the prosecution, the magistrate asked the accused to inform the court of a place that he could stay. Harrylall, however, said, “I am a deportee and I don’t have any place to stay.”

He added that he had a friend but he did not know the address. As a result, the man was remanded to prison on the grounds that he was unsuccessful in presenting a fixed address of a place he could stay while the matter is pending.

The matter will be called again on January 4.