Row over sheep in rice field lands Middlesex man attempted murder charge

An argument over whether sheep were damaging a rice field at Middlesex, Essequibo Coast has landed a 45-year-old farmer an attempted murder charge.

Abdool Jabar of Middlesex, Essequibo Coast man was yesterday placed on $400,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Charity Magistrate’s Court. Jabar was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is the police’s case that on June 19 at Middlesex Backdam, Jabar, with intent to commit murder, inflicted grievous bodily harm on Bisson Dyal. According to the facts, around 8.45 am on June 19, Dyal was tending to his rice field when Jabar went to tie his sheep nearby. Dyal reportedly told Jabar that his sheep were eating his rice and a heated argument ensued between the two.

Jabar then reportedly collected a shovel Dyal was holding and dealt him several lashes to his head. Dyal sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital from where he was later transferred to Georgetown Public Hospi-tal, where he is still a patient.

Jabar was represented by Sonia Parag who asked for reasonable bail to be granted since her client is not a flight risk and will attend his trial.   There were no objections to bail by prosecutor Haimwant Ramsewak but he asked that Jabar report to the Aurora Police Station every Saturday at 9 am. After considering the matter, bail was granted by the Magistrate.