‘Wrongfully accused’ mechanic granted bail on wounding charge

A mechanic who allegedly chopped another man was yesterday placed on bail.

Claude Couchman pleaded not guilty yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.

Couchman is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Roger Gonzalves on May 23, 2015, at Wineperu Backdam.

Claude Couchman
Claude Couchman

As the charge was being read to Couchman, he interjected, explaining that he was being accused wrongfully. The 49-year-old man who resides at 442 Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara, explained that on the day of the incident he was eating with a cutlass in his hand when Gonzalves approached him in a threatening way and fired a punch towards him. He said he tried to defend himself by swinging his cutlass towards Gonzalves, which resulted in him being inflicted with a chop wound on his neck.

No prosecution facts were presented and there were no objections to bail.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry placed Couchman on $125,000 bail. His next court date is July 13, 2015 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.