Teens get bail on wounding, bodily harm charges

A teenager was on Monday granted his release on bail after he denied stabbing an acquaintance with a broken bottle.

It is alleged that 18-year-old Dexter Williams committed the crime after the acquaintance tried to intervene in an argument between him and a friend.

Williams is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Irakiz Jose Lopez on July 5th at Eteringbang Landing.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown that Lopez, who is a Venezuelan national, and the defendant left a shop and were heading home. While heading home, the defendant and a friend of Lopez had an argument, resulting in the latter intervening. It was then, the prosecutor noted, that Williams became annoyed and picked up a beer bottle, broke it and stabbed Lopez above his shoulders.

The prosecutor made no objection to bail being granted.

Chief Magistrate McLennan subsequently granted the accused $20,000 bail with the condition that he not go within 50 feet of the complainant and that he must be of good behaviour until the completion of his trial.

The matter was then transferred to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court and adjourned until September 18.

Meanwhile, also charged on Monday was 19-year-old Randy Benjamin, of East Ruimveldt, who was accused of inflicting grievous body harm on an acquaintance.

Benjamin, a construction worker, pleaded not guilty to the charge that on April 1st, 2018, he harmed Owen Hercules.

The charge was read to him by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in Georgetown.

According to Prosecutor Quinn Harris, Benjamin and Hercules, who are known to each other, were drinking together when Hercules became disrespectful and slapped Benjamin. Benjamin then allegedly picked up a brick and pelted it at Hercules’ head, resulting in injuries to his right ear.

Benjamin was ordered by the Magistrate to post bail in the sum of $80,000 for his release and the matter was adjourned until July 23rd, 2018.