Doctor testifies at trial over wounding of T&T singer

Maverick De Abreu
Maverick De Abreu

The doctor who treated Trinidadian soca singer Rodney LeBlanc, well known as Benjai, after he was allegedly wounded in an attack at Palm Court last year, testified yesterday when the trial of the alleged assailant Maverick De Abreu continued.

The charge against De Abreu, of 66 Robb Street, Bourda, states that on the April 16th, 2017, at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded LeBlanc.

Prosecutor Eusi Anderson yesterday called on Dr Vargas to give evidence when the trial resumed before Magistrate Faith McGusty in Georgetown.

In his testimony, Dr Vargas stated that a patient, whom he identified as LeBlanc, visited the emergency department of the Woodlands Hospital for an operation to the right side of his face.

He noted that in his opinion the injuries LeBlanc suffered were from a glass because he removed a piece of glass from the wound. Vargas also stated that in his opinion the patient was not drunk.

Attorney Mark Waldron, who represents the accused, then cross-examined the doctor.

Under cross-examination, Vargas noted that he prepared a medical report for the complainant on October 23rd, 2017.

When asked by the attorney why it took him six months to prepare the report, the witness stated that it was only done after Anderson asked him to do so.

The witness added that he never saw the patient after April 16th, 2017.

Based on a question asked, the witness noted that as a result of there being no follow-up by the patient, there would be no way of knowing whether or not the injuries sustained by the complainant could cause keloids, as was stated in the medical.

Waldron then showed the accused two documents, the medical report and another report which were both prepared on October 23rd, 2017. The witness was then asked why he never gave the police a statement in relation to the matter and he said that the police never asked him for a statement.

Vargas was also asked if he personally checked the blood alcohol content of the patient and he stated that in his opinion it was not necessary to do so at that moment.

The witness was then re-examined by Anderson.

The trial is expected to continue today.