Bourda Market vendor George Khan was yesterday accused of using a hammer to carry out a brutal attack on a friend.
Although Khan denied the assault charge that was read against him when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, she refused bail and remanded him to prison in order to allow the prosecution time to present the hospitalised victim’s testimonial to the court.
It was alleged that Khan, on October 28, with intent to maim, disfigure and cause actual bodily harm, unlawfully and maliciously wounded his friend Leon Brown.
Prosecutor Winneth Hubbard explained that the two were having a conversation, which led to an argument, during which Khan allegedly picked up a hammer and dealt Brown several lashes. The attack caused the man serious injuries to his head, chest and leg, she said.
Hubbard noted that Brown was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he provided police officers with a statement that led to Khan’s arrest.
But when given the opportunity to speak, Khan told the court that he and Brown have been friends for many years and that he had no intention of committing such an act of violence on him. “I does cook for the man. I wouldn’t do me fren dah, never,” Khan avowed, while adding that he was the one who took Brown to the hospital in a wheelchair, which he took from a vagrant on the road to rush his blood-covered friend to seek medical attention.
Brown was not present in court due to the fact that he remained hospitalised. However, a family member stood up and notified the magistrate that a police officer, after seeing Brown covered in blood, had placed him in a vehicle and rushed him to the hospital.
Khan also said he went to see Brown after he regained consciousness and he could not recall who attacked him. “All he seh dat all he remember is like getting hit with car,” Khan noted.
The magistrate, however, refused the accused bail and remanded him to prison to allow the prosecution to get a copy of the medical testimonial.
Khan will make his next appearance on November 8 in Court One for reports and fixtures.
