Al Beckles, who police say stabbed a money changer during an attempt to rob him of a bag of money, was yesterday sentenced to 12 months in his absence after being found guilty of unlawful wounding.
Magistrate Fabayo Azore handed down the decision at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 5 after finding Beckles guilty of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Orin Braithwaite, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him actual bodily harm.
The trial was conducted in Beckles’ absence and his attorney, Peter Hugh, told thecourt that his client was in Brazil since his son was sick there.
Braithwaite, who was 62 when the attack occurred on April 23, 2013, was stabbed about his body while in a car with Beckles, with whom he was travelling at D’Urban Street.
Stabroek News had been told that Braithwaite was standing on America Street when he was approached by a man who claimed to have a quantity of gold to sell. He got into the man’s vehicle and it was while they were travelling to another destination to carry out the transaction that the other man reportedly pulled out a knife. He then began to stab Braithwaite, while attempting to take away his bag, in which he was reportedly carrying $1.8M.
Braithwaite sustained several stab wounds to his hands and about his body while resisting the attack and during this time the car crashed into a drain at the corner of D’Urban and Cross streets, Werk-en-Rust. Persons in the vicinity, including a Rural Constable, rushed to Braithwaite’s aid and the suspect was arrested.
