Stabbed Timehri prisoner still hospitalised

The inmate who was injured in an attack at the Timehri Prison on Saturday remains a patient under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

The injured prisoner, identified as Eon Ward, 25, suffered eight stab wounds at the hands of his fellow inmate during the altercation.

A prison officer identified as Skeete (only name given), attempted to intervene and was also stabbed during the melee. Skeete, the source said, received attention for injuries to his right hand and forehead and was treated by the prison’s medical staff.

Providing Stabroek News with an update, Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels related that the doctors who evaluated the injured prisoner admitted him to the hospital under observation after suspicions of internal bleeding. Samuels yesterday declined to disclose the identities of the attacker and the two victims.   

According to a press statement released by Samuels, the incident occurred at about 8.55 am on Saturday.

It said based on information received from the Officer in Charge of the prison, the wounded prisoner, Ward, who is currently serving a four-year sentence for possession of a firearm and ammunition, had threatened a prison officer on Friday and had also disturbed the other prisoners by kicking against a steel door during the course of the night.

As a result, on Saturday morning, a murder convict, who is serving a life sentence, attacked Ward with an improvised weapon, stabbing him eight times about the body.

Sources told Stabroek News that at the time of the attack, Ward and the attacker were both in the same security block.  Prior to the attack, Ward and Skeete were speaking at the entrance to the dorm when the attacker pushed Skeete out of the way and attacked Ward. Ward sustained injuries to his stomach, hands and head and was rushed to the GPHC where he was admitted.

Samuels had noted that three officers attempted to defuse the altercation resulting in Skeete being stabbed twice to his arm and temple.