Husband slashed wife’s hand with bread knife -court hears

A Wortmanville man was remanded to prison on Thursday after being charged with slashing his common-law wife’s hand with a bread knife.

Waylan Marks
Waylan Marks

A city court heard that on April 10th, at Lot 2 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Waylan Marks, 35, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Vanessa Hunte. Marks, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to him by Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Hunt, who was present, maintained that Marks picked up the knife and cut her while she was holding their one-year-old daughter. The complainant said that she had suffered abuse at the hands of her husband for years and so he was surprised when he was finally arrested for wounding her. She also told the court that her husband is always accusing her of infidelity.

However, according to Marks, he and Hunte were arguing when she allegedly picked up the knife. He said while he was trying to take the knife away from her, the blade sliced her hand.

Attorney Michael Forde, while making bail application for Marks, said the woman’s injuries were not life threatening and that she was misleading the court.

The police prosecutor objected to bail based on the prevalence of the offence and that the virtual complainant was injured by her husband.

In denying Marks bail, Magistrate McGusty told Forde that she is fearful for Hunt’s life if her husband is released on bail. She said he knows where she works and which bus park she uses to get transportation.

The case was adjourned until May 3rd.