Eon Archibald, the miner who was in June charged with the attempted murder of Dwayne Morris, was yesterday committed to stand trial at the High Court.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday declared that a prima facie case had been made out against Archibald, 40, of Lot 91 East La Penitence Housing Scheme, for the attempted murder charge and committed him to stand trial at the next assizes.
It is alleged that on June 4, at d’Urban Street, with the intent to commit murder, Archibald wounded Morris.
The police’s report had stated that the victim had suffered chop wounds to his left side rib and right hand and his kidneys had also been damaged during the altercation. Archibald’s attorney, Paul Fung-A-Fat had alleged that his client had only been acting in self-defence when the altercation occurred.
After the magistrate announced the decision to commit him to stand trial, Archibald, who was not required to plead to the charge, told the court that he had not committed the crime and had submitted evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions but claimed that the police were victimising him. He stated that the prosecution’s case against him was weak, if examined closely.
The defendant had no witnesses to call at that time but his attorney stated that Archibald reserves the right to call witnesses at the High Court.
Magistrate McLennan reduced Archibald’s bail from the $500,000 initially set to $300,000 at the request of Fung-A-Fat, while warning that he was not to go within 50 feet of the victim until the commencement of his trial at the High Court.
