Confessed wife beater gets 3 years jail

Martin McLennan was jailed on Monday, January 26 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry even as he begged to be free on the unlawful wounding with intent charge.

He was charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding the woman with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause her grievous bodily harm on November 9, 2014 at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara. McLennan pleaded guilty.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the Court that the two had been having problems for some time.

According to Grant, about 18:30 hours that day the woman was on her way home when McLennan cornered her and they had a misunderstanding.

Grant explained that McLennan armed himself with a broken bottle and dealt the victim several stabs to her face, arms and other body parts. He said that she was rescued by a public spirited citizen who noticed what was happening.

McLennan ran away that day but he was subsequently arrested after a report was made at the Ruimveldt Police Station.

The public spirited citizen picked her up and took her to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was admitted for treatment.

McLennan told the Court that he knows he made a mistake and turned to his reputed wife and told her he was sorry.

Despite receiving the jail term, McLennan begged to offer compensation to his wife and it was at that point that the woman came forth and said “Excuse me your worship, I just want to say something.”

She said they lived together for eleven years and “he wasn’t a bad man. He was never a bad man to me.”

But the Chief Magistrate retorted “the injuries you sustained caused you permanent disfigurement.”

Reading the medical report, the Chief Magistrate revealed that the woman had suffered multiple lacerations ranging from two to eight centimeters about her body, several punctures; and at the time her left wrist was unable to extend among other things.

“These are serious injuries,” the Magistrate emphasised but the man responded, “The hand did break already.”

As he continued with his pleas, the Chief Magistrate said “Be thankful you didn’t get more!” seconds before rising the Court for a short adjournment.