Man stabbed wife with bottle after misunderstanding – court hears

A man was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with using a bottle to stab his common-law wife after a misunderstanding.

Martin McKinnon was not required to plead to the indictable charge of felonious wounding when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge against McKinnon is that on November 9th, at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, he feloniously wounded Josephine Armstrong, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause her grievous bodily harm.

According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, the couple shared a relationship that was full with domestic violence prior to the offence. Grant said on the day of the attack, at about 6:20pm, Armstrong was returning home when she was approached by McKinnon, who had a bottle hidden under his shirt. He added that they had a misunderstanding, which resulted in McKinnon retrieving the bottle and dealing Armstrong several stab wounds about her body, including her face and left hand. She was later admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and McKinnon was held after a report was made to the police.

In objecting to bail, Grant suggested that if McKinnon is granted bail, he might try to commit an even more serious offence. He also said that from the medical provided for Armstrong, more serious charges are likely to be laid against McKinnon.

As a result, McKinnon was remanded to prison until November 24, when the case will be heard again.